Birmingham City signed Jhon Solis on loan from Girona during the January transfer window
Birmingham City’s Jhon Solis
Chris Davies has only needed to watch 146 minutes of Jhon Solis in the Championship to know that Birmingham City have found a player with all the attributes to succeed in English football.
Solis impressed in two substitute appearances versus Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke before Davies trusted him to partner Paik Seung-ho in midfield at Oxford last weekend.
The Colombian enforcer produced a commanding Man of the Match display to win tackles and move his team up the field with incisive passing.
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Signed from Spanish side Girona, who are Manchester City’s sister club, there were few doubts in Davies’ mind that Solis would suit Blues’ possession-based style.
“He can play,” says Davies. “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.
“Like all young players, it’s very rare to find one who is consistent because they are up there one week and the next week it might look different, so we have to bear that in mind.
“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. 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.”
Paik and Tommy Doyle are good on the ball, Solis’s unique selling point is his physicality and frame.
The 6ft 1in midfielder has added size and power to Blues’ engine room and they looked better for it at the Kassam Stadium last weekend.
Davies added: “I’ve been impressed with him. 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.”
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