Birmingham City will look to hand out a first professional contract to 16-year-old attacker Romelle Donovan over the coming weeks, with the youngster set to turn 17 at the end of the month.
Donovan has already featured for the Blues’ first-team this season after coming on for seven minutes during a 2-0 defeat to Hull City a few weeks back in what was head coach Wayne Rooney’s first home game in the dugout.
Speaking on the teenage sensation back in October after handing him his debut, Rooney piled on the praise and admitted that Donovan deserved to be in the squad [quotes via club media]:
“He deserved to be in the squad and come on. His attitude has been great. He has trained very hard. He has dropped down – since I have been here – twice to play for the Under-21s and on both occasions has been the best player.
“He has come back and trained really well. He is not in for any other reason than that he deserves to be in the squad and I felt the last 10-15 minutes when he came on he could give us something a little bit different.”
Now, Birmingham Live are reporting that City are keen to tie Donovan’s future down at the West Midlands club by handing him a professional contract once he turns 17.
Players cannot sign deals with clubs at any age younger than 17 but Donovan’s birthday is at the end of November, meaning the Blues will look to make a move within the coming weeks.
The forward can play anywhere along the front three and as a number ’10’, offering Rooney flexibility and versatility off the bench which the former Derby County boss will certainly look to utilise more over his time in charge, however long that may be.
Writer’s View
Many supporters and pundits can question Rooney’s credentials or tactics as a manager but the Manchester United icon has an unwavering knack for developing young players.
Despite being in charge of Birmingham City for just a handful of games, Rooney has already given a debut to Donovan, showcasing his keenness to hand minutes to academy products.
