Last Updated: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:09
Alex McLeish claims his risk in signing defensive duo Roger Johnson and Scott Dann for Birmingham paid off and labelled them 'winners'.
The Blues chief has admitted that he looked at signing a couple of centre-halves who had more Premier League experience than the duo. However, as he was restricted by finance, McLeish opted to take the cream of the Championship when he raided Cardiff and Coventry for Johnson and Dann respectively.
The two players have forged an impressive partnership at the heart of the Blues defence and McLeish has not been shocked by their progress.
He said: "I am not surprised how well Johnson and Dann have done. I think it shows we felt our homework was right about the players.
"I have to admit we did look at centre-halves with Premier League experience but, in the end, it was too expensive.
"I turned to the centre-halves whom I believed were as good as anyone, if not better, than anyone in the Championship in Johnson and Dann and they had that potential in them to do well.
"With the type of mentality they have got, they are winners. They will throw themselves at the ball on the edge of the box. You saw the bravery of Roger against Manchester City last weekend when he took a real painful knock in the throat.
"These two boys really want it. I know they want it, want to do well, learn and succeed, and there is a lot ahead of them.
"But they know the real proof of the pudding is if we our retain Premier League status and they've both been a big part of achieving that, in being mainstays and the rocks around which we've built the team.
"Then they will know they've arrived as Premier League players - but I've been pleased with them so far."