Birmingham vs Man United Preview
Sir Alex Ferguson feels new-boy Mame Biram Diouf could get off to a flying start for Manchester United.
United signed Diouf from Molde in the summer but opted to let the Senegal striker remain in Norway before he returned to England in December to join the Red Devils on a full-time basis.
The 22-year-old has now broken through all the necessary red tape and is available for selection at Birmingham.
And, having cast doubt on Diouf's ability to make his debut in what turned out to be a postponed Carling Cup semi-final at Manchester City on Wednesday, Ferguson has no such concerns about St Andrews.
"We are looking to involve Diouf at Birmingham," said Ferguson.
"It is a good time to do it and he may just do well straight away."
Ferguson had certainly been impressed with Diouf prior to the bad weather which has wrecked preparations for the trip to Birmingham.
In handing Diouf Carlos Tevez's old number 32 shirt, Ferguson has presented his newest recruit with a bit of history to live up to.
But the Scot is adamant Diouf has the ability required to live up to any expectation.
"In training he has done very well," he said.
"He is quick and has magnificent spring in the air for someone of 5ft 10in.
"He has a good intelligence and a good feel for the game.
"He has attributes that are suited to us. He is a bit different to what we have at the moment and we have done well to get the kid."
Meanwhile Birmingham boss Alex
McLeish has warned his players to "beware of the wounded animal" when they face United in Saturday evening's clash at St Andrews.
McLeish knows the Red Devils will be "hurting" after suffering a shock FA Cup third round defeat against Leeds at Old Trafford last weekend.
But he is still confident his in-form players can give United - and his former Aberdeen boss Sir Alex Ferguson - the "fright of their lives."
City will go into the game defending an 11 game unbeaten league run which has catapulted them into the top half of the table and already virtually guaranteed their top flight status for another campaign.
McLeish said: "Manchester United, you can't judge them on the last couple of results, because they don't normally go a few games without winning.
"You know there will be a bit of a wounded animal this weekend and extremely dangerous - and if we were to get something off them then we would still be punching above our weight.
"But the players are relishing matches like this. Players who haven't played before in the Premier League relished coming up against Chelsea on Boxing Day, really loved it, and it will be the same against Manchester United.
"Some of them played against United this season at Old Trafford but, at St Andrews, we feel we can be a match for anybody and we will try to give Manchester United the fright of their lives."
McLeish is continually stressing the need for his players not to rest on their laurels after accumulating 32 points going into the New Year means they are only a handful away from safety.
He said: "The points we have amassed so far are way ahead of where we thought we would be and maybe we have got a few points in the bank for a rainy day.
"It has given the players a real impetus and a challenge to such a degree that they are all driving each other on.
"They want to rise to every single challenge and that is the challenge I have issued to them, that they should not be resting on their laurels, not be content with the points they have gained so far.
"They shouldn't be thinking they have got a bit of leeway.
"They have got to keep going and get as many points as they can, as quickly as they can and be relentless and they have risen to every one of those challenges so far.
"At some stage we will lose a game, and that's a fact, but we believe that we can continue the run but they don't come any bigger than Manchester United."
McLeish played under Ferguson in the successful Aberdeen team of the early 1980s and believes some of his qualities have rubbed off on him in management.
He said: "If you go and try and be somebody else, you find you are not actually being true to yourself.
"I always remember getting that advice when I started out in management, that you've got to be yourself and you don't really know what that is until you have a feeling, and you try something. and think 'that wasn't me.'
"Then you begin to evolve - but, at the same time, a lot of the advice and things I learned under Alex Ferguson are in my make-up now, without me actually copying him.
"But it is about players. Let's be honest, Sir Alex has players who are world stars, world class players, so my players are not quite at that level yet - so on paper Manchester United should win."
Birmingham defender Stephen Carr will return after suspension after missing the goalless draw at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup while serving a one-game ban for incurring five bookings.
McLeish will have to reorganise his bench as fringe players Lee Carsley, Stuart Parnaby and Gregory Vignal are all ruled out through injury.
But number two goalkeeper Maik Taylor has recovered from a back problem after having an injection.
Birmingham are confident the clash with United will go ahead, despite weather-enforced postponements of other Premier League games.
A statement from Birmingham read: "Club officials have met with local authority inspectors who have reiterated that they are happy for the fixture to go ahead. This followed an inspection earlier in the week.
"Discussions have also taken place with the emergency services and the Premier League since the recent bad weather took hold and club staff have worked around the clock to ensure the St. Andrew's walkways, car parks and other areas are clear.
"The club's undersoil heating system means there are no problems at all with the pitch."
