Birmingham Mail
Birmingham City midfielder Tomoki Iwata has spoken about teammates Ayumu Yokoyama and Paik Seung-ho
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Having fellow Japanese footballer Yokoyama in the dressing room proved beneficial to Iwata, who ended the season having scored eight goals in 47 games across all competitions, including a stunning strike against Premier League opponents Newcastle United in the third round of the FA Cup.
By the time Yokoyama - who Blues have to make another decision on this summer as to where he plays his football in the new campaign - was loaned to Belgian outfit Jong Genk in the January transfer window, having scored four goals in 19 appearances for Blues in the first half of the season, Iwata was fully bedded in.
"In the first half of this season, we had Ayumu Yokoyama, currently at Jong Genk, who transferred from Sagan Tosu," Iwata told Soccer Digest Web. "He is agile, and the opponents bite more than in Japan, so he dribbled one after another to avoid them. Maybe fast players can play an active role without being cut down.
"The manager also said that he was 'absolutely necessary if we get to the Championship', but he chose to transfer. I think he will play an active role in Genk's top team this season. I was also very helped by having him at the same club. I am grateful."
Then a bit about having played Paik in Asia, so he knew him etc.
