Big Eck: Hleb can be our scoring sensation
Posted Thursday, September 02, 2010 by MirrorFootball.co.uk
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is tipping Alexander Hleb to cure the club's goal-scoring woes.
City impressively came ninth in the Premier League last season but only scored 38 times.
Their tally and average of a goal a game was the sixth lowest in the top-flight and only six more than worst offenders Wolves who managed just 32.
But Brum have got off to an unbeaten start to this season under McLeish, who is sure midfielder Hleb's creative skills will improve them further.
Ex-Arsenal star Hleb, 29, was one of three deadline day arrivals as he joined on loan from Barcelona along with Martin Jiranek from Spartak Moscow and Chilean winger Jean Beausejour.
McLeish said: "Hleb's a terrific player and we've got to get the best out of him.
"Hleb can make that difference that we've been seeking for a year or two.
"In the middle to forward areas he'll bring that creativity that we've been craving.
"He's a bit of a maverick with the ball at his feet and I know the Birmingham fans love him."
Belarus international Hleb left the Gunners in 2008 to join Barca but flopped and spent last season on loan at German side Stuttgart.
Hleb made 89 appearances for Arsenal and boosts Brum after missing out on Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia.
McLeish added: "Hleb is a top quality player who at one stage we'd only actually dreamed about, really."
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