Birmingham defender Giovanny Espinoza has vowed to fight for his first-team place despite the flourishing partnership between Roger Johnson and Scott Dann.

The Ecuador centre-back was signed from Barcelona Sporting Club on a two-year deal during the summer.

Blues boss Alex McLeish has told Espinoza he cannot guarantee him a regular start and admits the knowledge Johnson and Dann have of the English game has led to him choosing the duo. But Espinoza has assured the former Scotland boss he has every intention of battling for his place.

McLeish told Press Association Sport: "Giovanny is in the squad. I told him it might be tough for him to get a starting position given the amount of centre-halves when everybody is fit.

"They know the British game and I know them more than I know Espinoza. He has got a good international record and he is a smashing bloke I have got a lot of time for. His reaction to that was he is determined to make it here and he is determined to get in ahead of the other lads who are ahead of him just now.

"He said, `When my family come over here and I get settled down you will see the real Espinoza'. That's fighting talk and I love that kind of reaction from any player. He is determined to prove he can be a fixture in this team in the Premier League."