Jord, 17, is Brum star

JANINE SELF

THE Birmingham matchday programme gave the game away – 17-year-old academy starlet Jordan James was picked as the main interview.

Sure enough, the midfield boy wonder was given his full league debut by boss Lee Bowyer and marked it with the crucial assist to hand Blues victory.

And last night the Blues announced James has signed his first professional contract until the summer of 2024.

Bowyer has introduced the youngster from Hereford gradually in recent weeks.

He was full of enough energy, with the clock ticking down, to head Kristian Pedersen’s cross. The ball hit substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz and beat Blackpool keeper Daniel Grimshaw (above).

James has been with the club since he was seven, having decided to follow in the footsteps of his father Tony, who played for Hereford and Burton.

He said: “I have been through a lot of ups and downs, but it makes the last few years of work worth it. “My dad has shown me his way and is my inspiration, but it’s more than just being a footballer. The way he acts has taught me a lot.”

Bowyer said: “He played like he has been playing for a while. He was brave enough to run in the box at Kristian’s cross and give the goal to Jutkie.

“Jordan should be really proud of what he has done. If I didn’t think he could do it, he wouldn’t have played.”

Blackpool have now gone five games without a win and boss Neil Critchley was honest in his criticism.

He said: “Sometimes if you don’t produce better quality than we produced, you get what you deserve. I am not sure we deserved any more.”