Dann moved to St Andrew's from Coventry this summer.

Birmingham centre-back Scott Dann feels his time playing for Walsall and Coventry stood him in good stead for his step up to the Premier League.

Dann, 22, chalked up more than 100 Football League appearances before his £3.5m move to St Andrew's this summer.

"I think it worked out good for me - people make it to the top league in different ways," he told BBC WM.

"I think me starting off at Walsall and Coventry gave me a lot more experience, more than most people my age."

Every game's tough and you play against the top players - it's a good learning curve Scott Dann

After a couple of niggling injuries delayed Dann's Premier League debut, he made his first start for Blues in the 1-0 win at Hull last month.

The Liverpool-born defender has since cemented his place alongside fellow summer signing Roger Johnson in the heart of Alex McLeish's defence.

"I've made the step up from the Championship and you just want to play against the best teams week-in, week-out," he noted.

"Every game's tough and you play against the top players - it's a good learning curve.

"It was hard for me to start off with, coming to a new club and wanting to prove myself.

"It's taken me a little while getting fit but now every game that goes by, I'm feeling fitter and stronger."

Dann's short-term target is to retain his first-team place once the new Blues' owners, Grandtop Holdings, invest in new players in the January transfer window.

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