Lee Bowyer opens up on Onel Hernandez's future as Rangers man linked to Birmingham City

Welcome to BirminghamLive's coverage of Birmingham City on Friday, March 11.

Lee Bowyer says Onel Hernandez is loving his time at Birmingham City and that the club will speak to Norwich City about a return to St Andrew’s.

The Cuban has electrified Blues ’ team since cutting short his loan with Middlesbrough and arriving at Blues.

He has scored three goals, added two assists and provided the kind of incisive attacking performances supporters haven’t seen for a long time.

He has done so in a variety of positions, from wing back to striker and all across midfield, giving Bowyer the kind of tactical flexibility he craves.

Fans have also taken to Hernandez and the appetite for him to stay at Blues has grown - an appetite Bowyer shares.

“I don’t know [the prospect of getting him back] - the one thing I do know is Onel loves it here,” the head coach said.

“I have had a few conversations with him and he is really enjoying it.

“Onel is one of those people you need to put your arm round, tell them you love them and let them play."

When Lyle Taylor joined Birmingham City on loan towards the end of the January transfer window the news was followed by a degree of scepticism.

While many Blues fans recognised his previous success under Lee Bowyer, others pointed towards his lack of impact at Nottingham Forest, where he has scored seven goals in 57 Championship appearances.

But it took just seven minutes of his Blues debut for the striker to start making deposits in the credit column, a neat and clinical finish against Forest’s arch rivals Derby County.

He scored again against Sheffield United - and again in his fourth game against Luton in which he also set up Juninho Bacuna.

He deserves an assist for Gary Gardner’s goal at Stoke