Fabrice Muamba admits he worked hard on convincing former Arsenal teammate Johan Djourou to join him at Birmingham City.

Muamba admitted with a smile: "He's old enough to make his own mind up, but I did have to have a few words, face to face!

"I told him all about the club and what it would be like here.

"Of course I wanted him to come and did my best to get him to Birmingham. He saw that there were three of us Arsenal boys here last season, he saw what we did and how much we enjoyed ourselves."

Djourou said: "Fabrice was always trying to convince me to join.

"It was my choice in the end, and it had to be on the decision of Arsene Wenger to say OK as well. But it was good of Fabrice to try his best. He kept on telling me how much Birmingham wanted me in their team.

"He came out to Switzerland in the summer with a couple of boys from Chelsea and some other friends, and it was good."