Wayne Rooney gives Birmingham City players a brutal first lecture before dropping a bright hint

Romelle Donovan, a teenage sensation with extraordinary skill, has Wayne Rooney ready to give him an opportunity at Birmingham City.

Despite being called up for the preseason training camp in Spain in July, the 16-year-old was not playing a major role for the first team under former head coach John Eustace. Donovan was a prodigy in the academy who Eustace included in first team lineups, but he has yet to make his senior debut.

Donovan is thought to be the club’s top under-18 talent, and new manager Rooney has been studying him more closely, as BirminghamLive revealed last week. Donovan has been practicing with the first team this past week, and Rooney may use him on Saturday against Middlesbrough.

“He’s been great,” Rooney remarked. Maybe on Saturday (he will get an opportunity). And I’m not making that up; he has been outstanding and is making a lot of effort to participate on Saturday.

After committing to his scholarship in the summer, Donovan has established himself as a mainstay in the under-21 starting lineup this year. Donovan has been a key player in Steve Spooner’s lineup despite being the youngest; on Monday, he scored his third goal of the year in a 2-0 victory over Fleetwood Town.

Rooney, who scored a goal against Arsenal when he was 16 years old to begin his spectacular playing career, is committed to making sure Blues youth players continue to make the first team.

Rooney restated, “As I’ve said before, I’m a coach who really enjoys developing young players.” I elucidated this to every player. “If you don’t want to be here, there’s the door, you can leave,” was the first thing I said. I want players who genuinely want to be here.

Whether you are a 16-year-old or an experienced gamer, you have to earn the privilege to participate. Regardless of whether they are the top player or a budding talent. You will be given an opportunity if you train successfully. We must practice our playing.

“That’s what the boys did. I’m willing to add them if they’re a young guy since I believe it’s beneficial for the team as a whole. The young players we are trying to sign need to know that they have a route to a chance to play for the first team under my management.