 McLean then joined Championship club Birmingham City on 21 November 2013, on loan until 1 January 2014.He made his debut two days later, as a second-half substitute as Birmingham drew with Blackpool, and then scored both goals as the club's development squad beat their Newcastle United counterparts in the U21 Premier League Cup.When it came to light that McLean had been ineligible, having played for his parent club in an earlier round, Birmingham withdrew from the competition.