Marc Leonard gunning for Wembley glory with Celtic and Rangers pals (2025)

The midfielder is hoping to help Birmingham lift the Football League Trophy at Wembley on Sunday

Marc Leonard has revealed how there will be a strong Scottish influence and big Rangers and Celtic contingencies as Birmingham City bid for Wembley glory.

The Blues have just clinched promotion to the English Championship and are looking to back that up by lifting the Football League Trophy - in the final against Peterborough United on Sunday.

There is a strong Anglo presence with the likes of Leonard, Grant Hanley and Lyndon Dykes, who is coming back from injury.

Leonard admitted: “Big Lyndon and Granty obviously came in January, but it's been amazing getting to know these players who, obviously, I've watched on the telly for years.

“They’ve played for Scotland tens and tens of times and are just unbelievable professionals.

“They've been two of them who have been a massive help for me in terms of giving me advice and helping me develop and just being a really good role model when I'm maybe not playing and I'm maybe struggling for a bit of advice or whatever.”

On-loan Rangers stars Ben Davies and Kieron Dowell will be part of the Blues’ squad although Scott Wright is unfortunately out injured for the season.

Leonard confirmed: “Davo and Scotty came in the summer and Kieran came in January. “It shows the level of how good they are, the type of players they've came and every one of them has contributed “Scotty's had a bit of an injury-prone season, but when Scotty was playing, he was firing in all cylinders and Davo has been a Rolls-Royce the whole season, really.

“Ever since Dowell came in, he's played and he's been a creative outlet for the team.

“I think these boys have just come in and elevated the standards.

“They're very good to play with, very good professionals, very good lads.”

The Birmingham manager is the former Celtic assistant Chris Davies and they also have ex-Hoops star Tomoki Iwata.

“Our manager definitely got the drive and the hunger to be successful because his coaching is of elite quality,” he admitted.

“I’ve been at Brighton, so I do know quite a good few coaches and his level of detail and stuff like that.

“You'll have heard people talk about it before but his level of detail in every session means something.

“There's a purpose behind absolutely everything that goes on and I think that's how we've been able to manage high expectations this year.

“Every day means the world to him and his session and it's been how we've been able to maintain such high standards.”

Birmingham have won promotion and still will want to end with the title but before that they want to make sure their big day out at Wembley has a silver-lining. More than 40,000 hopeful Blues will make the trip south.

The midfielder stated: “It'll probably be the biggest in terms of atmosphere and people there.

“Of course, it's a cup final, so it'll be my first cup final in my career.

“I'm just really looking forward to it.

“It was definitely the aim when we started out in this tournament. There was always the talk around the club when I was signing that there was an opportunity to get to a cup final at Wembley and thankfully we've been able to do it.

“There is such a buzz about the place to get there and to get the opportunity to play in such a historic stadium is something everybody is really looking forward to.”

The 23-year-old has revelled in things since he left Brighton in the summer. Leonard is not just rubbing shoulders with legends on the park at St Andrews but off it as well. He has already met legendary owner and quarter-back legend Tom Brady and would love to reward him with a League Trophy touchdown this weekend.

The Scot admitted: “Yes, I’ve met him. He came to the game where we played Wrexham.

“He came in and sort of did a big speech and was sort of motivational. To be fair, we've had three or four Zoom calls with him throughout the year.

“He checks in and he makes sure everyone's all right, and he makes sure the standards are being upheld.

“He has been really hands-on.

“Even little things like he'll text some of the boys and whatever and congratulate them on things. It's a bit surreal, but it just shows the magnitude again of the size of the club and the fan base.

“I can only imagine what it will be like if we were to lift the cup at Wembley, It truly would be amazing.”