Geraldo Bajrami opens up on 'hard' Birmingham City exit, FA Cup heroics and drops return hint

This weekend Birmingham City fans enjoying a free Saturday afternoon might recognise a familiar face staring back at them from BBC One’s FA Cup coverage.

Blues ’ participation in the sport’s oldest competition ended in dismal circumstances a month ago, outplayed and well beaten by League One Plymouth Argyle.

But if Bluenoses are looking for a dog still in the cup fight - they could do far worse than Kidderminster Harriers and the defender who is Blue through and through and who has made a career out of keeping right on.

Sixth-tier Kidderminster, the lowest ranked team still in the draw, take on West Ham United in a 12:30pm kick-off - a match that pits ex-Blues centre back Geraldo Bajrami against Jarrod Bowen, who in Michail Antonio’s absence is likely to lead the line at Aggborough.

Bajrami was released by Blues in the summer, after a topsy-turvy decade that as a schoolboy saw him have two unsuccessful trials before eventually being taken into the Wast Hills fold at his third attempt.

The cultured centre back ended up coming through the system to reach the FA Youth Cup semi finals with the Under 18s, picking up silverware with the Under 23s and more valuably playing two first team games.

It all ended in May last year, when he helped Blues win the Professional Development League 2 play-offs knowing full well every kick could be his last.

True to fashion, the 22-year-old is bouncing back as he always does and he is now a valuable part of the Kidderminster side which is third in National League North and has gone one round further than Bajrami’s first pro club.

Facing Bowen won’t be anything new, his second final Blues appearance was against Bowen when the attacker was at Hull City in December 2019.

His first was at St