Wayne Rooney drops Romelle Donovan hint after ruthless first message to Birmingham City players
Latest Birmingham City news from BirminghamLive includes Wayne Rooney on Romelle Donovan and his message to his new players
Wayne Rooney is prepared to give the prodigiously talented teenager Romelle Donovan his chance at Birmingham City.
The 16-year-old was on the fringes of the first team under former head coach John Eustace after being called up for the pre-season training camp in Spain in July. Eustace included Donovan in first team squads, but the academy starlet is still awaiting his senior debut.
As reported by BirminghamLive last week, new manager Rooney has been taking a closer look at Donovan - who is widely regarded as the club’s hottest under-18 prospect. Donovan has trained with the first team throughout the past week and Rooney could involve him against Middlesbrough on Saturday.
“He’s been excellent,” said Rooney. “Maybe Saturday (he will get a chance). And I’m not joking with that, he has been excellent and he is really pushing to be involved on Saturday.”
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Donovan has become a permanent fixture in the under-21s line-up this season after signing his scholarship in the summer. Despite being the youngest member of Steve Spooner’s set-up, Donovan has been decisive in their matches and scored his third goal of the season in a 2-0 win over Fleetwood Town on Monday.
Rooney - who kickstarted his illustrious playing career with a goal against Arsenal as a 16-year-old - is determined to ensure Blues’ youngsters continue to filter through to the first team.
“As I’ve said before, I’m a coach who really enjoys developing young players,” reiterated Rooney. “I explained this to all the players. The first thing I said was ‘If you don’t want to be here, there’s the door, you can leave. I want players who want to be here. You have to earn the right to play, whether that’s a 16-year-old or a senior player. Whether that’s the best player or a developing player. If you train well you’ll get an opportunity. We have to train how we play’.
“The lads have done that. If that’s a young lad, I’m prepared to put them in because I think it’s important for the club as well. The young players we try to sign must understand that with me as manager there is a pathway for them to get an opportunity with the first team.”