Michel will fight for a place at Blues

Birmingham City new-boy Michel is ready to fight for a starting role at St Andrew's after becoming the club's first capture in the transfer window.

The Spanish midfielder is the first new face for Blues in January, after completing a £3million move from La Liga outfit Sporting Gijon.

Manager Alex McLeish has high hopes for the 24-year-old, who goes straight into the squad for tomorrow's Premier League game at Portsmouth.

But Michel has the the formidable duo of Lee Bowyer and Barry Ferguson to get past before a starting spot can be secured, and the new signing is ready for the challenge.

He said: "I want to be part of the team and to improve with each game. I'm quite a technical midfielder, so I will try to learn the speed and rhythm of the game over here as quickly as possible and try to absorb as much as I can each day in training.

"But I understand the situation with starting games, as it is difficult to change a team when they are winning games and playing very well.

"All I can do is train hard every day and, once Alex McLeish wants me to be on the pitch, I will be prepared to give my very best."

Michel's arrival at St Andrew's ends a year long pursuit of the player, with a move close in the last transfer window only for Blues to be hampered by a lack of remaining transfer funds.

Money is now not an object, and the former Sporting Gijon skipper is expected to the first of many.

He said: "For a long time now I've been looking to come here as soon as possible. I feel very honoured that the manager has waited such a long time to get me.

"I felt an important part of the Sporting Gijon team, so it was a very difficult decision for me to leave.

"I've watched many Birmingham games this season, as they are shown in Spain a lot of the time and it's made me very excited about coming here."