WIGAN, England (AFP) - Wigan manager Steve Bruce intends to offer a welcoming hand to Martin Taylor should the Birmingham defender make his first-team return in Saturday's Premier League relegation showdown at the JJB Stadium.

Taylor, 28, received death threats and was the subject of a stinging attack from FIFA president Sepp Blatter after his tackle on Arsenal's Eduardo da Silva ruled the Croatian striker out of Euro 2008 with a broken leg.

He was slapped with a three-match suspension after being sent off for the challenge on February 23, a punishment which was viewed by some, including Blatter, as too lenient.

Although Taylor has now served the ban, Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has so far opted against throwing Taylor back on the Premier League stage. Yet with defenders Liam Ridgewell and Franck Queudrue both suspended for the Wigan game, Taylor could make his return to senior action for the first time in six weeks.

Bruce signed Taylor from Blackburn Rovers during his six-years in charge of Birmingham, and the Wigan manager insists he will be delighted if his former player returns to face his side.

"He wouldn't deliberately hurt anyone," said Bruce, who phoned Taylor to offer his support after the incident at St Andrews. "It's just not in his make-up. That's why I made the call to him.

"He's a family man with three kids. He's intelligent enough to know it could happen to anyone. That's why I think he'll be ok. I think we have seen much worse tackles since in the last few weeks. Fortunately players have managed to get out of the way of them."

Should Taylor make his return against Wigan then he will come face-to-face with the referee who sent him off against Arsenal.

Mike Dean is down to take charge of what ought to be an intriguing afternoon at the JJB Stadium.

Not only is Bruce facing his former club for the first time since he walked out on them in bitter circumstances last November, both teams are desperately fighting for Premier League survival.

Wigan are just five points above the relegation zone with six games remaining while Birmingham are one place above the bottom three.

Yet Birmingham's battle to avoid the drop has been boosted by the goalscoring form of Argentina striker Mauro Zarate.

The 21-year-old has netted three times in his last two outings to give the West Midlands club hope of staying in the top tier.

Zarate is on loan from Qatar club Al Sadd yet the 10-million-pound-rated player claims he does not want to return to the Middle East.

"I do not want to go back to Qatar at the end of the season, I want to stay in England and in the Premiership," he said.

"I have always wanted to play in the Premiership and Birmingham have given me my chance. They did that for me and they are my first choice now.

"It has been said there is a possibility of my staying here for another 12 months on loan next season. "What happens with that will be more clear in June.

"Birmingham is still my priority. I wanted to leave Qatar and they were the first club in Europe to give me an opportunity.

"If Qatar say no and they will not sell me, I want to talk to them. I want to sit down with my agent and with the clubs and sort out the best thing for everyone.

"That would be the best thing for everyone. I have seen the price that Al Saad are wanting for me. I hope that we can talk and find out the best deal for everyone."