Veteran goalkeeper Maik Taylor is backing Birmingham to be in the mix for an immediate return to the Premier League come next May.Taylor, who recently penned a new two-year deal at St Andrews, is likely to keep the number one jersey ahead of Colin Doyle when Blues kick off their season against Sheffield United.

And he believes it could be the start of another successful campaign in England's second tier after Birmingham's automatic promotion in 2007.

"I enjoy playing for Birmingham and, although it was obviously tremendously disappointing to get relegated, I am really optimistic about the future and looking forward to next season," Taylor told the club's official website.

"We're going into an extremely difficult division but we will definitely be up for the challenge and I'm sure we won't be far away.

"I think the manager will put together a very good squad. We have lost a couple of players, which happens, but we still have quality and I'm sure he will do things here and there to improve us."

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