Gianfranco Zola has praised Robert Tesche for his performances since coming back into the team, reports the Birmingham City official website.

Robert Tesche has been an ever present in the starting line-up for Birmingham City in the last six games since Gianfranco Zola switched to a midfield diamond formation.

This allows Robert Tesche to sit behind a further three midfielders and provide cover for the defence in a holding central midfield role.

Zola has lavished praise on Tesche for standing out despite competition from the likes of Maikel Kieftenbeld, Stephen Gleeson, David Davis and Craig Gardner.

The 29-year-old is enjoying his best spell for the Blues since joining permanently from Nottingham Forest last summer.

Zola says that the German midfielder is thriving in this new system and that he offers more defensive ability in the central midfield ranks than Stephen Gleeson, despite Gleeson having more ability on the ball.

Zola told the club's official website:

"I have been very pleased with the games he has been playing.

"Maybe one game he didn't perform as well as I was expecting - that was the game against Wigan but that was not only him, all the midfielders didn't play or perform.

"But other than that, he has been excellent.

"I know I have a good player in that position - which is Stephen Gleeson - probably Stephen has got something more with the ball, but at the moment I need the ability to defend and to cover in front of the defence that Robert, in my opinion at the moment, has got more than Stephen.

"I appreciate that Stephen is working very hard, but I am pleased with the way Robert is playing."

Birmingham fans - do you agree with Zola? How has Tesche been since his return? Let us know in the comments below...