Lee Bowyer makes Birmingham City prediction as transfer verdicts delivered

Jordan James' first goal of his senior career set Birmingham City on their way to a battling point and a 2-2 draw at Stoke City.

The 17-year-old gave Blues an early lead and although they couldn't hang on they did produce a gutsy display to continue their recent improvement.

Gary Gardner got his fifth of the season - his highest ever return from a single season - while Tyrese Campbell bagged a brace for the hosts who came from 1-0 down to lead 2-1.

An injury to Teden Mengi meant Lee Bowyer didn’t have any fit senior centre backs - and at times it showed as Maxime Colin and Kristian Pedersen lost their bearings.

Stoke came close to a winner with ten minutes to go when Lewis Baker's corner found Jacob Brown but his header, under pressure from Colin flew just wide.

And Blues might have nicked one in injury time as Pedersen headed wide from Jeremie Bela's lifted ball into the area.

“(James) 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