Hart has excelled during his temporary spell at Blues and emerged as a strong contender to be part of England's World Cup squad.

McLeish would like to retain the services of Hart for another 12 months although he accepts Roberto Mancini will have the final say on the matter.

But he believes the former Shrewsbury player would struggle to come to terms with being on the substitutes' bench at Eastlands after what he has achieved at Birmingham this season.

McLeish said: "It will great to get an early nod on Joe from City because we wouldn't want to be going into the May-June period thinking that Joe is going to be coming back here - when he is not.

"We have to get an answer from City quite soon - and I am sure Joe wants an answer as well.

"But the human element in me says a player of Joe's magnitude, after what he has done this season, will find it very difficult to be sitting on someone's bench next season regardless of maybe getting a pay hike."

PA Sport