McLeish ponders permanent Hart deal

The Birmingham City manager, Alex McLeish, may yet yet try to sign the goalkeeper Joe Hart permanently next month to avert fears of losing him in the summer.

Hart, on a season-long loan from Manchester City, has been one of the cornerstones of the Blues' remarkable run of 11 consecutive Premier League matches without defeat, equalling a 101-year-old top-flight club record.

The 22-year-old's latest standout performance came in Monday's 1-0 victory at Stoke, where Hart produced two exceptional saves to preserve the three points following Cameron Jerome's winner.

Hart's value is likely increasing all the time, which is why McLeish could move in the January window rather than wait until the end of the season.

Asked whether he was concerned whether any fee might be too much come May, McLeish replied: "Possibly, but then maybe a bigger club might have their sights on him. We bring players in and try and improve them, and sometimes a situation like this arises. We've just got to keep going with Joe, and at the end of the season see what happens. He may feel he wants to come to Birmingham."

That may yet force McLeish's hand, strengthened by transfer cash to be made available by the club's new owner, Carson Yeung, if the speculation is to be believed.

"We need to discuss that. We've not discussed it at board level," remarked McLeish at the suggestion he could pursue Hart next month.

It is hardly surprising McLeish is not dismissing such a prospect after witnessing at first hand the progress made by Hart since his arrival at St Andrew's.

The Scot claims Hart is firmly in the England manager Fabio Capello's thoughts for next summer's World Cup. At a time when there is no standout candidate for the No 1 slot, McLeish feels Hart is in with a shout of claiming the coveted position.

"His form has been brilliant, and let's face it, he is looking a big, powerful bloke between those sticks right now," added McLeish. "He has improved since he came to us. He probably had it there anyway, but we have probably brought out the potential. Joe has as good a chance as anybody else to certainly be in the England squad. I know Fabio Capello and his staff like him, so he already has an edge, and his recent performances have certainly shown he can be a candidate."

Acknowledging Hart as a character, and not just a player, McLeish added: "He is conscientious, he cares, and he enjoys the support he gets. A lot of players can be sensitive, a little bit precious and see that as a criticism, but it's constructive. With some of the things we tweaked earlier in the season, he has improved, he has ironed out the rough edges. He is a great pro. Right now he just needs to focus on the next game, to work hard under [goalkeeping coach] Dave Watson and continue to improve."

The Stoke manager, Tony Pulis, will move to strengthen his squad next month after watching his current crop of strikers again draw a blank.

Pulis cannot fault his forwards for effort, but as Stoke have failed to score in five of their last six matches, they are in desperate need of a spark in front of goal. James Beattie, Ricardo Fuller, Tuncay and Mamady Sidibe have just four goals between them in 19 Premier League games so far this season. And if Stoke are to avoid being dragged into a relegation dogfight over the second half of the campaign, then goals are urgently required.

"We need a little bit more quality in front of goal, as much as anything else, because we've lost our touch," remarked Pulis in the wake of his side's defeat. "I can't fault any of them [the strikers]. I've played the four of them again and they've all gone on and given it their best.

"We know Beattie can score goals; Ricardo Fuller has proven he can score goals at this level, and Tuncay has scored goals for Middlesbrough. We know Mama [Sidibe] is not a top goalscorer. He is a different type of player for us, but the other three have all scored goals at this level."

Pulis splashed out £5.5m on Beattie and Matthew Etherington last January, and both played their part in helping the Potters to a highly respectable 12th in the league last season.

Commenting on the transfer window, Pulis added: "It was important last year, and it will be important this year. "There are one or two areas we need to strengthen. We've been looking for someone to control the midfield for us for a long time. Those players are difficult to get hold of, but we are looking."