Blues will come face to face with former Academy star Romelle Donovan on Saturday.
The winger left Blues permanently for Brentford in June 2025 after failing to break into Chris Davies’ first team plans.
Donovan was one of the Academy’s highly-prized assets and made his senior debut aged 16 in the 2023/24 season under Wayne Rooney. He finished that campaign with 10 appearances under his belt.
But despite featuring for Davies in pre-season ahead of 2024/25, he went to Burton Albion on loan and after recall joined Brentford in January on loan, with the Bees having an option to buy.
Donovan ultimately felt he had to get away from St. Andrew’s to further his career.
Saturday’s opponents Sheffield United took him on a season-loan for the Bees and now Blues face the prospect of the 19-year-old determined to make a point in the Championship opener.
“There was a lot of talk of Romelle when I first came, from the outside,” said Davies of the attacker, whose ability to flummox opponents through sharp twisting, turning and nifty ball carrying is a strength.
“He really caught my eye in the first few weeks of training, in terms of his energy, that quality, his personality as such a young lad.
“He played a few pre-season games. I remember one at Shrewsbury he did quite well in.
“But as things went on, giving him regular game time at that point, which he was really searching for in League One, wasn’t something that I could guarantee, basically.
“It was all very amicable and respectful. I spoke to his family, he decided to go a different route. I am really pleased for him to see his career continue to develop, as it has done since he’s been at Brentford.
“He’s still young and I look forward to seeing him Saturday.
“It probably wasn’t quite the right time at that stage for him or for us.”
The only Academy-reared players to have been selected by Davies for competitive first team action are midfielder Brandon Khela and winger Zaid Betteka, who made two short substitute appearances in the FA Cup in the last two seasons.
Khela was sold to Peterborough United and Betteka was released by Blues this summer.
