Lack of regular starts 'fuel' for Blues' Leonard

Marc Leonard had two loan spells at Northampton Town before joining Birmingham City from Brighton

Birmingham City midfielder Marc Leonard said he has used the disappointment of not being a regular starter this season as "fuel" to try to win a place in the side.

The 23-year-old Scot has started seven times and made 17 more appearances from the bench for League One leaders Blues this term since joining the club from Brighton last summer.

Leonard has, though, played every game in Birmingham's run to the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy, setting up Jay Stansfield for the only goal in Tuesday's quarter-final win over Stevenage.

"Jay makes good runs and so do the rest of our front line, so it's joy for a midfielder," Leonard told BBC Radio WM.

"Everyone makes it hard for us. We can't play like we always want to play but we've remained patient and the moments of quality have got us through."

Victory took Chris Davies' Blues through to the last four in a competition they have won twice - in 1990-91 and 1994-95.

"The manager's drilled into us how important the competition is," Leonard said.

"The last time this club were in it we all know what happened [they beat Carlisle in the final]."

Leonard's assist came after he was restored to the side after being dropped to the bench for Saturday's win over Rotherham that stretched their lead at the top of League One to four points.

That followed a run of five successive starts in all competitions for Leonard and he said losing his spot felt like a bit of a setback.

"There was some disappointment on the weekend but I stayed positive and came in and did a job," Leonard said.

"I've always stayed ready and been professional. I have been disappointed but you have to use that as fuel and, as a footballer, that's part and parcel of the game.

"We've got such an amazing squad and we knew opportunities were going to come and thankfully over the last few months I've been able to come in."