James O'Brien has won over one City boss during his time at Valley Parade and now he's ready to do it with another.

The young Irishman admits he is starting from scratch under Peter Taylor.

O'Brien is slowly recovering from a nose operation which has kept him out since the end of January.

His absence has coincided with a rush of fixtures - and a change in the hot-seat.

But the confident midfielder, who was left out of the reserves yesterday as a precaution, is not fazed by the prospect of impressing a different manager. Having turned a pre-season trial into a full-time deal with Stuart McCall, O'Brien is backing himself to win his way into Taylor's plans.

He said to the Telegraph & Argus: "It's a challenge and I'm always up for one of them.

"There are a lot of new players coming in but I'll get the chance every day in training and it's up to me to show that I'm better than everyone else.

"It's the same as in the summer when I first came here. The new gaffer doesn't know me so I'll just have to prove what I can do.

"The more I do in training, the more he'll get to know me. I don't mind that.

"Competition is always healthier for the club and it brings out the best in people. I think that's the case with me."

The former Birmingham trainee has featured 23 times, 15 from the start, but hasn't played since scoring against Cheltenham on January 2.

He went under the knife to fix the broken sceptum in his nose which was making it difficult to breathe.

O'Brien admitted: "It was a killer. I couldn't sleep at night and I was nodding off at stupid times before the pain woke me up.

"The operation wasn't pleasant. They had to break it back into place and shave the bone down.

"It was really swollen after but I'm breathing normally now so there's no excuses."