Winging it

He's quick, got a trick and doesn't run up alleys. He sees pictures.

Alex McLeish's eloquent summing up of Quincy says it all.

There's a star in the making at St Andrew's, the Dutch-Ghanaian winger has already made an impressive impact, and he's not fully fit yet either.

Quincy was rated quicker than Thierry Henry at Arsenal, and the way he can step on the gas and accelerate from a standing start is highly impressive, or frightening, if you are the full-back.

Now there's quick and there's quick but daft. We've all seen the wingers who can leg it but over-run the ball out or dispatch a cross into the stands.

Quincy seems to have a bit more poise about him, as well as being a slippery customer in possession.

His game appreciation and intelligence is good and I'd imagine he could easily play down the middle, or in the hole.

David Gold has drawn comparisons to Jose Dominguez and they are similar, but different.

Dominguez was a whipper-snapper of a player, whose fast feet and low centre of gravity enabled him to zip round defenders.

Quincy kind of glides elegantly, he's like a 400m runner on the back straight when he's in full flow.

What binds them is that Dominguez was a real crowd-pleaser who got you off your seat, just like Quincy did on Saturday.

Credit to McLeish, his chief scout Paul Montgomery who put a lot of spadework in, for getting Quincy to Birmingham. And the board drove a hard bargain, securing him on a loan for the season when Spartak Moscow wanted a fee in January.

Quincy, like Jermaine Pennant perhaps, didn't live up to his early promise at Arsenal and the bright lights of London were apparently appealing.

But he's wiser and determined to realise his latent talent.

Interestingly, when McLeish was doing his background checks he contacted Arsene Wenger who told him no ifs, no buts, if you can take Quincy, do so.

Talking to Quincy, his accent is more north London geezer than Holland. He doesn't sound like your typical Amsterdammer speaking English in that distinctive Dutch style (or even Steve McClaren for that matter).

He's very Anglicised and attuned to English football, which can only be a plus.

Blues fans have been holding out for a hero since Le God, monsieur Dugarry. Quincy could be that man.