Phillips hoping for first-team run

And the 36-year-old plans to play on for at least one more season, although it remains to be seen whether that is at Blues with whom his contract ends in the summer. Phillips took his career goal tally to 249 after coming off the bench to earn Blues a 2-1 win over Wolves at St Andrew's on Sunday. He has had to play second fiddle to the Cameron Jerome-Christian Benitez partnership for the majority of the campaign with James McFadden occasionally used as an alternative option by McLeish up front. But the well worn phrase 'form is temporary, class is permanent' could have applied to Phillips as he showed the deadly finishing in a five-minute spell that the other strikers have struggled to demonstrate with City this season. Phillips' efforts were even more praiseworthy given that he had been sidelined for three weeks with a groin problem leading into the game. The former West Brom player said: "I've been frustrated I've not been getting on in games and, when I have been getting on, it's only been for five minutes and you can't do anything. "It takes you 10 minutes to get used to the pace of the game. "All I was asking for was at least half an hour and I've shown now what I can do. I'm not saying I'm going to do that every game but maybe I'm hoping I'm pushing for a start now. "People say the team have been winning but there are two sides to that. Yes, we have been winning but we have not been scoring that many goals and ultimately centre-forwards are judged on scoring goals. "I'm not going to argue. At my age, I'm just delighted to still be in the Premier League. "But I think I've given the gaffer something to think about and we'll just see what happens during the week." Phillips added: "Retiring is not too far around the corner but I'm definitely going to have another season next season without a doubt. "I know it's an old cliche but I've just got to take each season as it comes - and see how I feel next year. "I've got to admit I was feeling a bit down this year. I've been lucky in that I've played the majority of games throughout my career. "I've found it difficult sitting on the bench week in and week out even though we are in the Premier League. "But what happened against Wolves has given me that boost and bit of hunger again that I can still score a goal." Phillips admitted: "I'm way behind on my match fitness because I haven't played but I'd like to think I may get a good run in the team from now until the end of the season as the manager hasn't brought in another striker. "I've had a slight groin strain, nothing too major, and to be fair I've still got a little bit of a strain but it is one of those I've got to get on with." Wolves striker Kevin Doyle, who had given his side the lead, admits it is paramount not to suffer any sort of hangover after the Phillips late show turned the game on its head. He said: "The good thing is we've a game in three days' time (against Tottenham). I wouldn't like to be stewing on this one for too long to be honest. "Being ahead like that away from home, you just need to lock the game up. Thankfully we will get the chance to redeem ourselves after today on Wednesday. "It is important not to dwell on this but it is hard not to when you are ahead, when the three points would have been so valuable. "We would have leapfrogged a good few teams if we had won. "But it is important not to get weighed down with being in the bottom three. We know that one win gets us out of it. We've been there before - and out of it a few times this season."