Stars of the Future: Krystian Pearce – Part II

Krystian Pearce is planning to return to Birmingham City – after helping Scunthorpe win promotion to the Championship via the play-offs.

Undoubtedly, Pearce is set for a big future in the game and his experience of playing both League One and League Two football will stand him in good stead.

When interviewed in February 2008 on www.givemefootball.com he confirmed that he would like to have been pushing for a first team place at this stage of his career.

“In 12 months I would like to see myself pushing for a first team place at Birmingham if possible,” he said at the time.

“We have got a new manager now (Alex McLeish) and I have spoken to him and he is aware of me even though I am out on loan at present. I am sure playing these games will help my cause in the long run as it is all valuable experience. I am still in regular contact with Terry Westley (Academy Director) who has been the main reason behind my success as he has had a real impact on my career since he arrived at St Andrew's.”

However, Pearce is at a crucial stage of his development and will want to have a barnstorming pre-season to impress McLeish as the Birmingham boss admitted the reason why he didn’t recall him when faced with an injury crisis this year.

“His confidence is sky-high now and, with young kids, they peak and trough with their confidence,” McLeish told the Birmingham Mail.

“If fans are asking me should I have kept him here, then I would say the reasons not for doing that were because he’s a teenager at a club where the demands are huge, expectation levels are enormous, and he wasn’t ready.

‘‘It would have been crazy – and unfair on him – to have involved him.

“We have monitored him with the staff and are delighted with his progress. I would love nothing more than big Krystian to make the grade here.”

The Chief has the League One play-offs to concentrate on before returning to the West Midlands where he will have a short break before kicking on and attempting to make his mark in the Premier League next term.