TAYLOR IN HART ATTACK

BIRMINGHAM keeper Maik Taylor is refusing to hand over his shirt to new signing Joe Hart for today's glamour clash with Manchester United.

Taylor produced heroics last season to guide the Blues to promotion and has spent the summer dreaming of lining up against the Premier League winners.

But he feared being dumped on the bench when boss Alex McLeish brought Hart in, on loan from Manchester City.

Hart, 22, only left Eastlands to chase first team football and the assumption was he had been guaranteed a starting place.

Taylor is not giving up on his dream though and insists he in line to keep his spot in the side.

He said: "The manager in has given us both equal time in pre-season.

"In fact we were surprised in our last pre-season match that we both were given equal time.

"We thought he would stick with one of us for the full 90 minutes which is usually the case in the final pre-season game.

"Then that keeper would usually keep his place for the start of the season but we both played a half each so we're not sure what he is going to do.

"That certainly fills me with hope that I may start against United."

Northern Ireland star Taylor was convinced at one point that he was destined to become number two in the pecking order at St Andrews.

He added: "When someone of Joe's calibre comes in, someone who has been sitting on the bench at Manchester City, then hope is taken away from you.

Calibre

"But I've just kept my head down, trained as hard as ever and we'll see where that takes me.

"Hopefully it goes for me today. But if not then I'll continue to work hard.

"This is nothing new to me, I've been in similar situations before throughout my career. At international level I've had to battle it out with Roy Carroll and at club level Edwin van der Sar and I competed at Fulham."

Taylor (right) or Hart will be doing their bit for the Blues cause at the back against the Champions, but one man hoping to resurrect his Premier League career further up the pitch is Barry Ferguson.

The former Blackburn midfielder fell out of favour with Scotland and Rangers after a drinking session got out of hand when away on international duty.

Now he hopes he can put all those troubles behind him and repay McLeish for offering him a lifeline in the Premier League.

He said: "You can't ask for a better game than going to the Champions.

"To go and play against guys and teams like that. It's one I'm looking forward to. They're a great side. But that is why I'm here."

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