Birmingham City player that Wayne Rooney loved is facing important January crossroads

In recent times, Birmingham City and homegrown talent have gone hand-in-hand with each other, thanks to a number of players who have enjoyed strong upward trajectories since coming through the club’s ranks.

Despite years of mismanagement in the boardroom, the utilisation of the academy system at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park saw the likes of worldwide sensation Jude Bellingham, his brother Jobe, Jordan James and George Hall among others, handed their first-team bows in recent years.

Following the club’s well-documented takeover by Knighthead Capital Management, Birmingham’s academy has since reached Category One status, highlighting the continued pledge of seeing local talent and those from further afield make it as professionals in B9.

Romelle Donovan is yet another example of someone who, like Bellingham, was handed his first-team debut at the age of 16, with Wayne Rooney introducing the attacker in the latter stages of a 2-0 defeat against Hull City last October.

However, fast-forward 14 months, and already, the 18-year-old is facing up to a crucial January window if his career is to continue progressing at his hometown club under Chris Davies.