Birmingham striker DJ Campbell admitted his “head has been down” at the lack of first-team opportunities recently, but is determined to prove to manager Steve Bruce he should be in the starting line-up.

Campbell came off the substitutes‘ bench to rescue a point for Blues with an equaliser in last night‘s 1-1 draw against Sunderland at St Andrew's.
It keeps third-placed City four points ahead of the Black Cats with two games in hand.

Campbell has found himself down the order behind the likes of Cameron Jerome, Nicklas Bendtner, Gary McSheffrey and Rowan Vine despite making an impressive start to the campaign.
He said: “That has to be one of the most important goals I’ve scored, considering the situation we were in. It was such a tough game - and this team wants to be in the Premiership. We need all the points we can get.

“Sunderland were up for it and are an excellent team and to get a point was a good result. We look on it as a bad day and we’ve got a point.
“To score the equaliser was great. My head has been a bit down for the past few weeks. Every time I train, or come on during a game, I do the best I can to prove to the gaffer I should be playing.
“We’ve just bought Rowan Vine and he’s ahead of me so there’s competition in abundance. We’ve got Mikael Forssell to come back as well, so it’s looking strong up there.

“Every player who isn’t playing wants to play - not just me - which is good for the team. Hopefully when we do get a chance, we can change games like I did against Sunderland.
“All I can do is stick in there and keep giving it 110% and hopefully I’ll get a start.”


Campbell insisted Birmingham have no divine right to clinch a quickfire return to the top flight following relegated last season.  He said: “It’s a tight league. People look at it and seeus having just come down and so expect us to bounce straight back up. Everyone wants to do that and our goal is to get back up to the Premiership.

“Our supporters are used to Premiership football, but it’s a scrap out there, it’s faster and more aggressive, you don’t get as much time on the ball.”