Alex McLeish has urged Sebastian Larsson to put aside his thoughts of a move from St Andrew’s and concentrate on helping Birmingham City win promotion.

After making his breakthrough last year with a string of outstanding performances and spectacular goals, the youngster also earned a call up for the Sweden squad for Euro 2008.

His meteoric rise was capped when he appeared against champions Spain in the pool stages and all summer long he has been linked with a move away from the Midlands and a return to the Premier League.

But despite rumoured interest from clubs like Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, who had a bid of £4.25 million rejected before the European Championships, Birmingham have not received a satisfactory offer. And with the Championship season due to start in five days’ McLeish needs one of his best players to have his mind on the job.

“That’s life, sometimes a move works out for you and sometimes it doesn’t happen,” McLeish said. “You have to get on with things, I had 18 years at Aberdeen and every time my contract was up, I was supposed to be moving to other clubs like Tottenham. It never materialised but I was too good a professional to let it affect me and that’s what Larsson is.

“We need to keep our best players here and Seb is in that category. He’s played in the Championship before so he knows what it’s all about. I’m sure every player here wants to play at the highest level possible but I want to manage at the highest level possible.”

Larsson has scored twice in the last two games and created two against Leicester City last Tuesday. He also tapped in from close range at Walkers Stadium and rifled a late equaliser past Mark Schwarzer in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Fulham to demonstrate that, unlike some of his other heralded team-mates, he is ready to hit the ground running when Sheffield United arrive this weekend.

Much credit for his goal on Saturday was due to Cameron Jerome, the centre forward who has been forced to play in midfield because of the number of strikers in McLeish’s squad. A surging run along the left and well- placed pass across the Fulham box left Larsson with little option but to score.

“Seb did Cameron’s run justice,” McLeish said. “Seb saw the situation well, he’s intelligent tactically. He plays with his heart and he gives you 90 minutes of sheer graft.”

With Larsson’s future uncertain McLeish is hopeful of bringing in his former Arsenal colleague Quincy Owuse-Abeyie, probably this afternoon. The winger is on the brink of a season-long loan from Spartak Moscow, although there is still a small amount of red tape to be negotiated. “I would hope to wrap it up but we still have to get it over the line,” he said. “He’ll bring value to the squad.”