Source: Team_Talk
Michel will need time - McLeish
The 23-year-old play-maker will formally complete a £3million move from Sporting Gijon to St Andrew's on Monday subject to passing a medical.Michel watched Birmingham earn a creditable 1-1 draw with Premier League champions Manchester United yesterday to stretch their unbeaten league run to a club record 12 games.McLeish is adamant Michel will bring some composure and additional quality to the City squad.But he accepts Michel will have to become accustomed to the physical side of the game and the total commitment for the cause evident in the current Blues squad.The former Scotland boss said: "What are the qualities of Michel? He takes the ball, he is unfazed with the ball at his feet, he can make passes, and I want that kind of quality here."But Michel will have watched that game with United and he will see the other qualities that you need in the Premier League - the physical side of it, getting close to people, making tackles."He will be as amazed as Mikel Arteta was when I signed him at Rangers."He was stunned when players made a tackle and kicked it into row Z and took the man, ball, everything that the fans went delirious."In Spain that doesn't happen. That is seen as neanderthal. Michel will learn that side of things and will bring a composure and bit of quality to the squad."He is a midfielder in the same mould of Barry Ferguson."McLeish believes Michel will be aware he may have to wait to break into the side given the run which has lifted Birmingham into eighth spot in the tableHe said: "Might he have problems getting into the team? He will realise that as well. It is a learning process for him."But I will reiterate Arsene Wenger's outlook on bringing foreign players to the club in that they take a little time to settle."If you look at our own striker, Christian Benitez, he is looking really dangerous now and was a real handful for United in the second half."He has now settled in after taking time to adjust and he now gives the stick out to the players as well as taking it."Michel will be ineligible to make his debut in Tuesday's home FA Cup replay with Nottingham Forest as he was not signed before the original tie at the City Ground.McLeish may be forced to admit defeat in his pursuit of Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones after tabling an initial £11 million offer.The overall package including add-ons and wages is understood to have sky-rocketed, forcing a rethink by McLeish who is determined not to drag the club into any financial problems despite the backing of new owner Carson Yeung.McLeish said: "I want to take the club forward in a way where we are responsible. We are not just going for the big signings because there is money there and it is too big a step."I've seen what has happened to clubs over the past few years, spending beyond their means and upsetting the wage structure."I am not going to name and names but it is my moral obligation to take the club forward in small steps rather the big giant one."