Birmingham City's Fran Villalba has admitted that not speaking English is a problem but he thanked those at the club who have helped him settle in.

The Spaniard has made a positive impression since joining Blues from Valencia in the summer and he grabbed his first goal for the side as they beat Middlesbrough at St. Andrew's last time out.

And, speaking to Blues TV, in Spanish, Villalba gave an insight into what the move has been like for him.

"It's about adapting to a new language and a new culture, out of respect for my team-mates. That's the rule, so I must learn English quick. I'm having lessons here and at home.

"From the first moment, everyone welcome me very well. The only problem was the language, because I couldn't speak a word of English! But now, slowly it's getting better and better, and everyone has been very good to me."

The 21-year-old is sure to be involved when Blues take on Leeds United this weekend as they look to build on that impressive success against Boro last time out.

The verdict

You can sometimes forget all the issues players face when they arrive at a new club, particularly foreign signings as they are adapting to a whole new way of life.

The language barrier is a major problem and Villalba deserves credit for his attitude towards this as he is clearly striving to get better.

So, once that picks up and he settles in the country we could see him improve further on the pitch.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.

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