Alexander Hleb: Unsettled and unpopular at Birmingham City
Alexander Hleb has been rather unsettled on his return back to England after failing to score a starting place for Barcelona.
The Belarus international got his professional career off to a promising juncture in his days at Arsenal. However, recognising greater potential and progression with the Catalan giants, the former Arsenal number 13 left for Nou Camp, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011. Having had little
luck with on-field football, the attacking midfielder made his way to the Bundesliga in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Germany-c2904 on loan.
This term however, a stop at St. Andrew’s for a season long loan has seen little improvement in football player’s fortunes. Hleb has struggled from form and fitness and has subsequently had a disappointing start to life back in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749. Until recently, the
player’s actions have further made him an unpopular bloke at Birmingham City. In an interview that featured a Birmingham shirt in the background, the former Gunner’s insistence to replace the background blue with an Arsenal shirt haven’t gone down well with
either his manager or the club’s fan following.
Alex McLeish on the other hand, conceded that the player deserved to play for a top ranked team in the league, but insisted that the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Belarus-c2849 rather prove his worth to the club that pays his wages.
“He obviously wants to play at the top level and Arsenal are top level. But he’s got a job to do here, it’s time for Alex to show in the second half of the season to show what he’s really capable of.” commented the Birmingham manager.
However, while the Scotsman conceded that Hleb wasn’t entirely fit and needed more work in training as part of his rehabilitation process, the former had little choice but to throw him onto the field in the game against Manchester United, owing to the player’s
sheer quality. Birmingham, evidently need all the help they can get as they find themselves battling relegation this season.
Reflecting on the game against Arsene Wenger’s men, McLeish added:
“He says he could’ve started against Arsenal but I trust my medical staff. We work closely in terms of overall fitness and plus the training guide tells you he’s not quite at the level to make an impact.”
From a third party perspective, perhaps its best to give the attacking winger some time to get back to full fitness. Knowing the Belarus’ potential in his days at Arsenal, there is little doubt that on his day, Alexander Hleb could be a match winner. The
Birmingham manager concluded on a similar note:
“We need him to make an impact from start to finish, if he buys into that, he’s a big asset.”
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