Salif Diao last night revealed the hardship he suffered to reach his Premiership goal at Birmingham City. Steve Bruce has snapped up the 27-year-old on loan from Liverpool for the rest of the season and he could well fill the boots of controversial Robbie Savage. Diao arrived in Liverpool for £4.75 million after impressing as his country became the surprise package of the 2002 World Cup. But it was a long way from his humble roots in Senegal. The tough-tackling midfielder had to fight and scrap against all the odds for his chance in football as he was raised in a remote village in the north-west of the country. The chances of being spotted by any clubs there were virtually non-existent and Diao made a life-changing decision at the age of 14 - with the help of £10 from his father, Ouma. He jumped on a bus in Kedougou to travel the 150 kilo-metres to the capital city of Dakar. Once there he headed to the Aldo Gentina Football School, a training centre run by French club Monaco. However, conditions there were still far from ideal for Diao and company as they struggled without their parents and on limited food supplies. Where I lived was only a small village and it was a long way from Dakar, said Diao. There were lots of kids from my village who were playing very good football but they were never going to get out. You had to go to the capital to show yourself. It was very difficult as I didnt have any family around me and it was a big decision to move away as a 14-year-old. I was there for three years and it was very tough, but it was all worth it in the end as I became a professional footballer. Diao had to watch as players like Amdy Faye were signed by Monaco, but his chance came with French side Epinale. A move to Monaco soon followed before he played for Sedan and starred in the World Cup for Senegal in 2002. Diao, who will be available for a fee somewhere in the region of £2 million at the end of his loan deal, may be a wealthy man now, but he hasnt forgotten his roots. And, as he explains, a trip back to Senegal always puts things back into perspective. I really appreciate things because of the way I started in football, he continued. It is important for me and all African players to go back home because we come from poor backgrounds and travelled a long way. Whenever we have some spare time we need to go back to Africa and see reality because sometimes when you stayherefortoolongyouforgetallabout reality. You can moan about football and be unhappy but when you go back home it puts everything into perspective. Diao, who admits his nickname is The Monster in Senegal because of his tough-tackling style, is looking forward to making an impact at St Andrews. Bruce fought off interest from Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Southampton to land the central midfielder and fill the gap left by Savage. However, Diao insists that he will be his own man at Blues and wont try to copy anyone elses style. I am a different player from Savage, he insisted. I have heard his name a lot since I arrived at the club and I know people will try to compare us. He is a good player and was very important for the squad here as he motivated players. But I am Salif Diao and I will play my own game. I hope I can show the form that I showed in the World Cup for Senegal and I believe I will get the opportunity to do that here. It was difficult at Liverpool because I would play and then be left out for two weeks. Whoever you are, it is difficult to play like that. I am a big lad who needs to be playing regularly. Diao, who admitted that Bruces persuasive tones won him over more than David OLeary, insists that Blues can still challenge for a UEFA Cup position. Blues form has been patchy of late but, with the Savage saga now firmly behind them, Diao believes it is time for both him and the club to kick on. You always have something to prove, he continued. Even if you are the best player in the world you have something to prove every time you play and I know I will fulfil my potential at Blues. The manager is really ambitious and if we play well why cant we make it into Europe next season? If everything goes according to plan, hopefully I will still be here. | 
