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Birmingham City attacker Fran Villalba is starting to make a real impression on the Blues' first team, with the 21-year-old having adapted well to the Championship so far since his arrival in the summer.

Villalba arrived at St Andrews this summer from Spanish side Valencia, and has shown signs of his promising ability so far, making nine appearances for Pep Clotet's side and helping them get off to reasonably solid start to the season, with the Blues sitting in 12th place on 16 points heading into the international break.

The 21-year-old has been used mainly in the wide-left position in Clotet's preferred 4-4-2 formation this season, and he has shown flashes of his technical ability to both carry the ball and pick out his team-mates in promising positions in the final third.

Villalba's best displays have come at St Andrews, with the wide man enjoying more freedom to stay forward and to create chances, which has certainly paid off. The attacker boasts real tactical awareness at times, demonstrating an ability to link up well with the players around him with some smart touches in the final third.

That was evident in Blues' 2-1 win against Middlesbrough in t last game before the international break, with Villalba helping Clotet's side dominate the game by pressing well high up the pitch and retaining possession, whilst also offering excellent movement off the ball, which helped him get into the right position to fire in his first goal for the club in the first half.

However, away from home Villalba's performances have been more reserved, with the 21-year-old being asked to remain tactically disciplined by Clotet, who has often set the Blues up to defend deep in a compact low block.

Villalba has at times shown a real willingness to do his defensive duty, but it is evident that he is not at his best when being asked to focus mainly on tracking his full-back when they venture forwards - and if Birmingham want to see the best from him away from home then Clotet might need to slightly tweak his approach.

The summer recruit will offer Birmingham real tactical flexibility in terms of the system that Clotet can adopt on different games, because Villalba has the ability to play in the number ten position behind a lone striker as well as wide left in a 4-4-2, which should only benefit the team as the season progresses.

It has been hugely encouraging to see Villalba adapt so quickly to the Championship, and although there is still plenty of room for development, he is starting to show real signs to suggest he will become a key player moving forward.

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