IT’S NOT A GREAT SURPRISE JUDE HAS SPARKLED

WITH winners against Stoke and Charlton, Birmingham teenager Jude Bellingham has caused a stir this season – but it hasn’t come as a great surprise to those in the know.

The 16-year-old’s introduction into the first team was only a matter of time as he has had a stellar youth career and been earmarked for the very top for a while now.

I first saw Bellingham in an U23 game at Fulham last season. He was outstanding and I spoke to the then-Blues U23 coach and former Pro Licence contemporary Richard Beale about him.

He waxed lyrical about Bellingham and said he had the lot to make it to the top, just so long as he stayed focused on his game, let his football do the talking and didn’t get distracted with off-thefield issues.

I saw Bellingham early on this season in the Carabao Cup first round at Portsmouth, but it was a night to forget for the Blues as the young side put out by Pep Clotet was blown away 3-0 on the south coast.

Bellingham operated just off the front in an unfamiliar 3-4-2-1 and the youthful Blues struggled to make an impact against a powerful Portsmouth side full of experience.

Against Charlton, Bellingham played off the left and got his goal by drifting into the box to finish smartly, whilst his winner against Stoke was slightly fortuitous as it took a massive deflection.

However, Bellingham showed bravery to take the shot on from distance and that confidence will be key, as will having plenty of experience around him to keep his feet on the ground as his career looks set to take off.

In the week another 16-year-old stole the headlines, Ansu Fati of Barcelona, who made his Champions League debut a full 18 months younger than Lionel Messi did, Bellingham will know the Blues have a history of teenagers getting a chance early.

Trevor Francis obviously springs to mind. He was the first million pound player – I wonder what Bellingham will be worth now!