Birmingham City manager, Pep Clotet, has claimed that new signing Alvaro Gimenez has 'big boots to fill' ahead of his first season in English football.

Jimenez joined from Almeria in the Summer, and got his first goal for the club on Tuesday night with a superbly timed lob which cemented a 2-0 victory for the Blues.

Che Adams, Birmingham's top scorer last season, departed in the summer as he joined Premier League side Southampton. Clotet and supporters will be hoping the Spanish acquisition can fill the void that Adams is sure to have left.

Speaking to the Evening Express through Press Association, Clotet said: “He has big boots to fill, the fact you are Jukey’s partner means you are compared with Che. I’m not looking for Alvaro to be Che, I just want him to be Alvaro.

“They partnered very well and I think he put in a big effort. He understands what British football is and has embraced it. He has been one of us from the beginning. The quality of the finish was very good.

“It will give him a lot of confidence but I hope he forgets it completely and gets back into the race again and works hard again.”

Birmingham travel to Swansea on Sunday for a lunchtime kick-off hoping to pick up their second victory in a week.

The Verdict

It must be tough being Gimenez. The pressure he must feel when he walks out on the pitch will be immense. Following in Che Adams' footsteps is a job that only a few can do to a solid standard at Championship level.

It was a great finish last night, and hopefully that starts the ball rolling for the Spanish striker. He was top scorer in Spain's second division last season, so he knows where the back of the net is. It'll be interesting how he adapts to the physicality of the Championship.

Clotet rightly said that Gimenez must be himself and not focus on what past forwards have done at the club.