The 34-year-old has played a key role in helping keep Blues afloat thus far this season as the Midlands club dovetailed a relegation fight with a stunning cup run to clinch the Carling Cup. Now sitting just three points off the drop zone, McLeish is aware that he may need to call on the experience of the former Leeds and West Ham man to steady the ship in the final two games of the season. Bowyer has not just been instrumental in the centre of the park this term, he has played out of position and chipped in with goals along the way, effort that has not gone unnoticed by his manager. "He's a very experienced player. He knows the game, he's intelligent and he's still got that knack of getting into the box and supplying a goal or two," McLeish told the Birmingham Mail. "He's an old head and he's been terrific in this second half of the season. "Maybe he's feeling a bit fresh because he didn't play as much in the first half. "But I have been really impressed by Lee Bowyer's contribution, his experience has been vital for us."
