Birmingham’s Nikola Zigic has has struggled to shine at St Andrews’ this season.

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Alex McLeish is confident Birmingham’s £6million summer signing Nikola Zigic will come good despite struggling to adapt so far to the demands of the Barclays Premier League.

The Serbia international has found English football difficult to adjust to after playing in Spain with Valencia. He has been confined chiefly to a substitute role with last season’s top scorer Cameron Jerome preferred as the main striker, but McLeish has faith in Zigic to eventually show his true worth.

“Nikola is still adjusting to the English game. It is hurly burly, 100 miles an hour,” said the former Scotland boss.

“On the continent he is used to balls being laid up to him and cushioning it and laying it off and keeping the play moving.

“It is a totally different game to the Spanish system and also the Serbian system as well.

“The players tend to get lazy as well when there is a big guy in the team because they just launch it forward.

“But we’ve got to try to get into the right positions to give him the right service.”

“Nikola has still got to find some sharpness in his touch and things like that but I am sure he will make a contribution.” (ITV Football)

Zigic has all of the attributes needed to succeed in the Premier League, but has so far failed to perform. The striker signed for the club for £6million over the summer and fans will be likely to start getting very impatient if the Serb does not start delivering soon.

Birmingham host Everton in the Premier League this weekend, and will be hoping to add more misery to the Toffees, with Davis Moyes’ side having started this season poorly.