McLeish warns Ferguson

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has warned Barry Ferguson that his Blues future takes precedence over Scotland

The midfielder had previously not been considered for international duty after breaching squad discipline while on duty for Scotland last season.

However, Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith has confirmed any successor to George Burley will be free to select Ferguson, who has been capped 45 times for the Tartan Army.

But club manager McLeish has warned his compatriot that playing for Scotland may jeopardise his future at St Andrews.

"Would Ferguson welcome a return to playing for Scotland?" he said.

"I don't know but if Barry was asked the question, he would need to be reminded he is in the Premier League and you need legs in this Premier League.

"If you are going to play every single game, you need to be super fit.

"To go and play international football at the age of 31 and to come back and perform week in and week out for us may mean there are times I'm going to have to rest or rotate him.

"He will have to consider that side of things. Am I being selfish? No, I am just guiding and educating him."

The Blues have made a reasonable start to the campaign on their return to the top flight and McLeish is hoping the squad can maintain their level of intensity in the coming weeks.

"We have intensified training this week and we are looking for the players to get back to the same kind of tempo, the same kind of performance level of recent weeks," he added.

"They have set the standards now and we will be demanding that type of performance from them every single week and they are capable of doing it.

"They have improved but, if they get complacent, they know what happens so it is up to the coaches and myself and the leaders in the team to keep on top of people and make sure that no-one is slacking."