DANNY Tiatto faces his first serious challenge to being one of the first names on the City team sheet during his time at Maine Road.

Tiatto has deservedly been a regular starter for the Blues in the Premiership and First Division during the last three seasons.

But new boy Niclas Jensen's emergence as a quality operator down the left flank has put the first question mark over whether Tiatto can expect a place in the starting line-up.

Current Danish international Jensen has settled into the side superbly in his six games since joining in a £700,000 deal from Copenhagen in January.

Manager Kevin Keegan has been able to avoid picking between the two because of Tiatto's three-match suspension followed by a three-match ban for Ali Benarbia which started at Newcastle last Sunday when Tiatto was drafted into the centre of midfield and was outstanding. The crunch will come when Benarbia returns against Coventry next Sunday and Keegan will have to pick between Jensen and Tiatto for the left wing back berth which both favour. Tiatto will be a tough man to keep out but Jensen is relishing the challenge.

He said: "I am the man in possession at the moment so it is up to me to make the position mine by continuing to play well.

"Competition is always good for players and teams. If there is somebody on your back you can't relax at any time. I don't really worry about the competition, as I know that is how the game is and I enjoy it because at a club like this there will always be a couple of players wanting to play in your position."