Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish held back his players for an hour after defeat at Arsenal.

The Sun says big Eck warned his Birmingham stars they must prove their worth - or be frozen out.

He handed out a ultimatum during a one-hour dressing room showdown.

He said: "We have got to start picking up points. I threw the gauntlet down to the strikers, the James McFaddens and Cameron Jeromes of this world, to get us up the league.

"We're linked with other players and that will add competition for places."