Birmingham City boss Lee Bowyer makes this prediction about Jordan James' future

Lee Bowyer believes Jordan James is going to be catching the eye of interested suitors after the teenager scored the first goal of his senior career.

James gave Blues a 12th minute lead against Stoke City and although they couldn’t hold on to secure a victory they took a point in an enterprising 2-2 draw.

And James, who was easily the youngest player on the pitch, showed how much he has developed, applying a neat finish to Onel Hernandez’s cross.

Bowyer purred: “He is learning, he is a 17-year-old kid who is learning the game and for me the finish and the area where he scored from, we keep saying to him ‘These are the areas you need to get into on the pitch to score goals – especially playing as a ten’.

“To have the composure at 17 to be able to pass the ball into the corner, something we work on, is pleasing for me because he is listening, he is improving.

“Seventeen years old and he’s scored his first goal, Stoke away in the Championship, that’s some going. I thought he was very good.

“His future is as bright as he wants it to be. I don’t think you can put too much pressure on him now but if he keeps doing what he is doing, showing the hunger he is showing and desire to improve he will be as good as he wants to be.

“He is a tremendous asset to the club, he is a good player, if he wasn’t good he wouldn’t be playing trust me, he is a good one, he is young and people are going to be looking at him for sure.”

James has now played 13 Championship matches for Blues didn’t even start the season with a professional contract.

He signed a two-and-a-half-year deal in November and is now one of the brightest stars in the youth set-up.