Chris Burke notched up a milestone and created history for Birmingham City when he lined up against Blackpool.

The Scotland international winger made his 100th appearance for the club.

No player has ever reached that tally quicker in club history.

Burke was a virtual ever-present in Blues’ mammoth 2011-12 campaign.

And he has again been a fixture this season for Lee Clark’s side.

Burke, Blues’ reigning player and player’s player-of-the-season, said: “I didn’t know I’d played that many games in such a short space of time.

“It’s excellent from my perspective.

“That’s down to the way I prepare for games but also the sports science and medical people we’ve got in at the club that keep me right.

“Hopefully one day we will be talking about 200!”

Burke made 61 appearances last term. He missed just one match, when he was rested for an FA Cup tie.

“There have been quite a few highlights,” Burke continued, “the main ones playing in Europe.

“I think the fans and players alike would agree that Europe was a fantastic experience and a fantastic journey.

“There are not a lot of players who can say they’ve played that many games in Europe and the whole journey that that entailed.

“I know we didn’t qualify for the Europa League knock-out stage, but it probably helped us domestically and spurred us on a bit in the league knowing that we could play against top quality opposition.”

This season the focus has been on very different matters.

Blues are not in play-off contention in the Championship, as previously.

It’s all about picking up points and climbing away from the lower reaches.

And Burke himself was the subject of bids from Nottingham Forest and Leeds United that failed, before the transfer window shut in January.

It was feared that a firesale might materialise because of Blues’ financial problems.

It didn’t, but those issues haven’t gone away – the summer could be seismic.

“The squad staying together after the window was really important, especially at this time of the season,” said Burke.

“We have to stick together and be strong and collectively get more victories and work as hard as a unit now.

“It was good that we added a player rather than losing any.”

Blues face Derby County at St Andrew’s on Saturday seeking a first home win in four games.

The midweek 1-1 draw against Blackpool was a decent performance, but Blues didn’t finish off their chances.

Peter Lovenkrands hit the post and Wade Elliott fluffed a six-yarder late on.

Burke was a real menace on the wing, combining very well with Paul Caddis.

Manager Lee Clark commented: “I honestly felt that we deserved to win on Tuesday, I was disappointed for the players because of what they put into the game.

“They were high tempo, there was passion, pace, we pressed them and created some great opportunities.

“In the wide areas we were terrific, we combined really well together.

“The full-backs broke at the right time and they gave the ball to the widemen early enough.

“Paul Caddis and Chris Burke on the right, Mitchell Hancox and Shane Ferguson on the left – I thought they did terrifically well. We fizzed some great crosses in. In those wide areas we looked very strong, very athletic, very quick.”