This article was published in Blues News on Saturday v Arsenal.

As a kid Keith Fahey could regularly be seen around the streets of Dublin sporting an Arsenal shirt but the Irish midfielder would love to put one over on his boyhood heroes this afternoon.

It was the performances of one particular Highbury legend back in the 1990s that inspired Keith to become a junior Gunner. He explains: “I used to love Ian Wright, his goals and celebrations. I had an Arsenal shirt with Wright and number eight on the back!” Little did he know at that point that the North London club was going to be the first port of call in his footballing story after he was spotted playing in a School of Excellence in Ireland set up by Arsenal’s Head of Youth Development Liam Brady. Fahey came over to England at the end of 15 but unfortunately things didn’t work out and he moved on to Villa after a couple of years in the Capital. Looking back he doesn’t harbour any regrets about his experiences as a fledgling with today’s visitors. He insists: “It wasn’t a major disappointment because being realistic it was always going to be tough with the money they had at Arsenal and the players they could bring in.”

Fahey eventually returned to his homeland and several seasons in the League of Ireland rejuvenated his career and brought him back onto the radar of some of England’s top clubs. It was Blues that took the plunge in December 2008 and it has already proved to be a good investment with the former Arsenal trainee racking up his 50th club appearance earlier this month. The midfielder himself admits: “When I first came here I didn’t see myself playing that many games in such a short period of time so things are going well.”

Many of his appearances earlier in the campaign came from the substitutes’ bench so the Irishman has understandably been delighted to get a run in the team in recent weeks. He continues: “I got the injury towards the start of the season and then when I was fit again the team were enjoying that long unbeaten run so it was hard to get into the side. It’s nice to be getting a bit of game time now coming towards the end of the season. I have been involved in a few of the goals lately, getting a few assists, so that’s been positive. There’s still a good deal more to come from me but I am starting to feel my way into it. I know I’m capable of playing at this level but I’ve noticed that my confidence dips sometimes during games. That’s just something that I have to address myself.”

Keith Fahey

Speaking to Blues News ahead of the midweek trip to Blackburn Rovers, Fahey admits that Blues were punished for being slow out of the blocks in last weekend’s defeat at Sunderland. Once McLeish’s charges got into their stride they pummelled the Black Cats goal with an incredible 23 shots and only the heroics of home keeper Craig Gordon kept the visitors at bay. The midfielder admits: “We started off slowly and we could have been three or four goals down before we’d even had a shot and put a bit of pressure on them. We can’t afford to do that in games and give teams a head-start, as we did against Everton as well, because it makes things very hard for us. We had some decent shots on goal towards the end of the first half and, with the chances that we created in the second half, we deserved a couple of goals.”

Fahey himself was denied on two occasions by Scottish international Gordon who was in supreme form between the sticks for Steve Bruce’s side. The 27-year-old has yet to score this season but he is hoping that that illusive first Premier League goal isn’t too far away. He recalls: “I had a couple of shots last Saturday and their keeper did well. I’ve been close on a few occasions this season – I just need one to go in! I’m not saying that the goals will come flowing after that but it would be a boost for my confidence to get that first Premier League goal under my belt.”

Fahey came to the attention of McLeish and his scouting team when he was pulling the strings for St. Patrick’s Athletic in the centre of midfield. That is Keith’s preferred role but the tremendous partnership built up between Barry Ferguson and Lee Bowyer has meant that the majority of his opportunities this season have come on the flanks. He is the first to acknowledge the part that Blues’ two 30-somethings have played in the team’s success.

“Barry and Lee have been brilliant for us in the centre of the park this season. They’ve got a lot of experience and they are great for a player like me, who is new to the Premier League, to learn from,” he says. “In the transfer window the gaffer brought in Craig Gardner and Michel so there is very strong competition now for the central positions. I can play anywhere across the midfield – right, left or centre. He hasn’t said it to me directly but I think the gaffer considers me more now as a left-sided midfielder. That’s the feeling I get as that’s where I’ve been playing recently and when I was coming on in games earlier in the season it was often on the left side, or occasionally on the right. I think I am adapting well to playing on the flank and I am starting to get into better attacking positions now.”

Blues’ top flight status is now safely secured for next term but Fahey insists that the team still have a lot to play for and has his sights set on eighth spot.  He says: “This season has gone a lot better than anybody could have hoped for. At the start of the season I don’t think even our own fans would have expected us to do as well as we have. We’ve had a good cup run and looking at it now it’s a disappointment that we’re not in the semi-finals. That shows how far the club have come in such a short space of time.

Keith Fahey

“The target for the rest of the season is to pick up as many points as we can and if we can try and finish eighth it would be an outstanding season but anywhere in the top ten would still be a great achievement. We’ve got a tough couple of games coming up (with Liverpool at home next week) so let’s see where we are after that but we’re just looking to finish as high as we can. Personally, I just want to play as much as I can. And not just playing, I want to contribute towards goals and assists and help to get points on the board.”

The next challenge that lies ahead of Blues is a daunting one as they look to stop the Arsenal title-chasing juggernaut. Arsene Wenger’s side have won their last six Barclays Premier League games to push themselves well and truly back into the championship race, combining that with progress to the last eight of the Champions League. But on the back of a 12-match unbeaten home run, Fahey knows that his former club won’t be relishing their visit to the Second City.

He concludes: “They have players all over the park that are threats so it’s going to be a tough game but we’ve drawn against Manchester United and Chelsea at home earlier in the season so we’ve picked up points against the top three teams and we’ll be looking to get something out of this game as well.”

Article and images used with kind permission of Birmingham City FC