Chris Davies Impressed by Jhon Solis' Immediate Birmingham City Impact
Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has expressed his confidence in loan signing Jhon Solis after observing the midfielder's performances in the Championship. Solis, who joined Blues on loan from Spanish club Girona during the January transfer window, has made a significant impression in his limited playing time so far.
Early Performances Show Promise
Davies has only needed to watch 146 minutes of Solis in competitive action to recognise that Birmingham have secured a player with all the necessary attributes to thrive in English football. The Colombian midfielder initially appeared as a substitute in matches against Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City before earning his first start against Oxford United last weekend.
In that Oxford fixture, Solis delivered a commanding Man of the Match display, demonstrating his ability to win tackles and advance his team up the field with incisive passing. His partnership with Paik Seung-ho in midfield provided Blues with a solid foundation that contributed to their improved performance at the Kassam Stadium.
Davies Praises Solis' Qualities
The Birmingham manager has been particularly impressed with how Solis' background at Girona – Manchester City's sister club – has prepared him for Blues' possession-based style of play. "He can play," Davies stated. "He's come from Girona so he's got a really good understanding of build-up play, possession play. He's really up to speed with a lot of the concepts around his position and his body-shape, how to play and how it works."
While acknowledging that young players often struggle with consistency, Davies emphasised his commitment to developing Solis during his loan spell. "My job is to keep developing him, improving him and educating him as we go along because he's still a player that is owned by the City Group," he explained. "They have a desire for him to come here and improve, and get game-time. As I said to them, I hope he helps us become a better team and a more successful club. It works for everyone."
Physical Attributes Stand Out
What sets Solis apart from other midfield options at Birmingham is his physical presence. Standing at 6ft 1in, the Colombian enforcer has brought additional size and power to Blues' engine room, attributes that Davies believes will serve him well in English football.
"I've been impressed with him," Davies added. "The physical side of English football will suit him because he's got legs, he's got strength, he's happy to put his foot in and he'll win his headers. Those off-the-ball bits, he's got all that. I like the qualities he has. He's definitely not one of those where you wonder if he's quite right for England, he's got the raw materials to be a success here."
While teammates Paik Seung-ho and Tommy Doyle offer technical quality on the ball, Solis provides a different dimension with his physicality and frame. This combination of attributes has given Birmingham City additional options in midfield as they continue their Championship campaign.
