Brums The Word Joe

Come this time tomorrow every Manchester Blue around the world will be thinking of one word- Brum.

For Birmingham City arrive at Eastlands tomorrow with but one target in mind to throw a spanner in the City juggernaut works and spoil suave controller Mancini's party.

A win would go a long way to cementing Birmingham in the top ten and cap off a fantastic season for a team that has spent only a fraction of what their rivals have.

Yet listening to noises being made from both clubs this year their may be a more sinister agenda behind Birmingham's motivation for three points tomorrow.

For winning is one thing for the team that is already assured of Premiership football for another season, yet securing the services of arguably your best player in the process is quite another.

Joe Hart may not be playing for Birmingham tomorrow, but he could be the prize for the winner come the end of the afternoon.

Brum manager Alex McLeish has made no secret of the fact that he would move heaven and earth to be able to sign the best young goalkeeper in the Premier League on a permanent basis or even extend his loan period for another season.

Unfortunately, for them, the noises out of both clubs seem to suggest that City are not prepared to let go of one of the best young talents in England and future England number one.

The deciding factor seems to hinge on the Blues qualifying for the Champions League and of course subsequent need for more quality in the squad to cope with the demands of three cup competitions and a league title challenge next year (I jest you not).

Tomorrows match is a must win in light of the Blues' run-in which includes United, Arsenal, Spurs and Villa. Both City and Brum know the importance of tomorrow's game for that reason and I would hazard a guess that the name Hart is the focal point of McLeish's team talk before tomorrow's crucial encounter.

So beware of the Brum tomorrow I say and only one hundred percent commitment from the lads will see us through to what is expected to be a relatively easy three points.

Take them lightly and it could mean more than missing out on Champions League football next season but also seeing the next England number one in Sky Blue too.

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