Role model Bruce is my inspiration, says McLeish

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Role model: Alex McLeish is looking to Steve Bruce for his inspiration

In December McLeish inherited the squad assembled by Bruce and was only able to add James McFadden, David Murphy and Mauro Zarate in January, but his CV will be stamped with "Relegated to the Championship" unless Birmingham win at St Andrew's, and Reading and Fulham fail to win their final games at Derby and Portsmouth, respectively.

But, should the worst happen and Birmingham go down, McLeish will draw both strength and belief from the way the club bounced back into the top flight under Bruce last season.

He said: "When you look at Steve Bruce, did it hurt his career when Birmingham went down? Or Harry Redknapp when he was relegated?

"They are inspirational to me. Steve did a great job here. He may have been up and down like a yo-yo. But he stayed in the Premier League for four years, and for that he has got to be a role model for me.

"There was a short-term goal for me when I arrived and it is still there for us. But it's going to be such a fine dividing line.

"If we stay up, I could be a hero. But in their other breath people could be left saying I was never the right man for the job. Then I'm a zero.

"But whatever happens life has to go on, and I'll still be as determined as ever to prove myself here."

McLeish admits he will be feeling the heat in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of St Andrew's today as much as anyone.

"Do I suffer anxiety? Absolutely. I am human. I'm not a machine," he said.

McLeish believes that, whatever happens, he should still be given time to prove he can make an impact on the Premier League. He added: "I don't think people will judge this as my team until I have brought in a few players and put my stamp on it."