Birmingham City in safe hands between the sticks

By and large, they have always tended to be blessed with good goalkeepers at St Andrew’s.

Birmingham City have a good tradition of goalkeepers, going back to the days of Harry Hibs and Gil Merrick.

Once again, the club seem well stocked. Arguably, they have the strongest roster in their history.

Joe Hart was a sensation on loan from Manchester City. He took the player-of-the-season honour.

How could Blues replace him? They did, with another top-notch ‘keeper - and one with more experience and pedigree - in Ben Foster.

Backing him up is Maik Taylor, the Northern Ireland number one, and Colin Doyle, a very capable Ireland cap.

And there has also been the emergence of teenager Jack Butland, who triumphed in European competition with England this week.

Butland, Blues young player-of-the-season, showed his credentials in the final of the under-17 Championship as Spain were defeated 2-1.

It was another feather in his cap and, despite being a rookie, he is firmly part of Dave Watson’s band of goalkeeping brothers on the Wast Hills training pitches.

Watson works Blues ‘keepers hard. Very hard. And the rivals drive each other on, which is also just how Alex McLeish likes it.

Taylor, who recently signed a new one-year contract, said the environment was competitive, yet healthy.

And he vowed that he would do his utmost to challenge £6 million Foster.

“It’s fantastic that the manager has shown faith in me,” Taylor said. “Hopefully I can repay that by helping Ben, but even better if I manage to get an opportunity myself.

“I’m still hungry to play football and be involved and I’ve committed myself to another year at a Premier League club.

“I’m very appreciative of where I am and what I’ve got and I will try and do my best and help the other keepers along and we’ll see what happens.

“I’m going to knuckle down and train as hard as I always have and try and push Ben all the way and if I do, that’s great for everyone.”

Butland has welcomed Foster’s signing as he represents another experienced hand he can learn from.

Butland only signed professional forms in March.

Time is on the 17-year-old’s side; for Doyle it’s a different case altogether.

Doyle, who didn’t make a single first team appearance last season, is likely to be loaned out to a Championship side.

He stagnated in the reserves after a couple of mooted temporary transfers failed to come to fruition.