Nafti set for Blues stay

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Blues manager Alex McLeish has confirmed that although the club have not yet entered into talks with the Tunisia international they are eager to tie him to a deal that will keep him at St Andrews until the end of the 2008-09 campaign.

McLeish said: "We haven't opened talks about a new contract, but we have told Medhi's agent that we would like to take up our 12-month option on him."

Nafti will come into the side to face Everton on Saturday in place of skipper Damien Johnson, who will start a three-match ban for his sending off against Wigan last weekend.

And McLeish believes Nafti is a shining example to any player when they are out of the side.

The former Scotland boss said: "Medhi has been as good as gold. He's been a great example to the other players who go out of the team.

"He has shown a great professionalism and approached things in the right way - not that he is happy about being left out.

"He is a determined man who, like everyone else, thinks he should be in the team and I've got to applaud his team spirit and he now deserves his chance."

Central defender Martin Taylor is facing three weeks out of action with the groin injury suffered during his comeback against the Latics.

McLeish confirmed: "Martin has got a groin problem which will probably rule him out for three weeks."