Former Birmingham City midfielder David Davis opens up about witnessing the early emergence and "football intelligence" of a young Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham in Championship action for Birmingham City against Huddersfield Town
Jude Bellingham in Championship action for Birmingham City against Huddersfield Town (Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
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Former Birmingham City midfielder David Davis always knew that Jude Bellingham had what it took to get to the very top after impressing him at St Andrew's.
Davis, who played 182 times between 2014 and 2021, saw a number of promising kids come through the ranks at Wast Hills and liked to pay an interest in how they were developing.
It was Bellingham who really caught his eye, and very early on he could see that the youngster was on track for good things, even admitting he was desperate to be on his team in five-a-side training games.
Speaking to the club's website, Davies said: "You sort of come in and around, and you're seeing the early emergence of a young Jude Bellingham. I felt like I had a duty to make the young lads feel welcome.
"I had older lads battering me when I was coming through, and I hated the feeling it gave me."
"He was a humble kid. People think he's arrogant, but you've got to be self-assured. The media in England, we think that's arrogance. But when you're that good, you have to have this voice in your head that keeps telling you you're good enough.
"Am I surprised he rose so quickly? No, because of some of the things he was doing. You were half desperate to be on his team for five-a-sides!
"He just needed the physicality, but he was also clever enough not to get himself into some of the physical duels. That’s football intelligence at such a young age."
David Davis (left) celebrates scoring against Villa
David Davis (left) celebrates scoring against Villa
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Davies recalls one of his most memorable moments at the club, THAT goal against Aston Villa in 2016. Davis' 72nd-minute drive handed Blues a share of the spoils against local rivals Villa at St Andrew's.
The Smethwick-born midfielder latched onto a poor clearance to fire low past Pierluigi Gollini and earn Gary Rowett's side a deserved point after an improved second half.
Visiting Villa had looked well placed for all three points at half-time following Gary Gardner's towering first-half header, but Davis had other ideas.
It's a goal he recalls fondly, stating, "Leading up to that, because I'm a local lad, you feel the tension. That derby — they genuinely don't like each other.
"I've got family that are Blues fans; I've got family that are Villa fans. I got butterflies. I knew that day that I was going to be unbelievable because not many boys in that Villa changing room knew what it meant to be from Birmingham.
"The ball comes to me, I give it a little touch and then hit it and I'm just like, "Oh my god, that's in."
David Davis (left) celebrates scoring against Villa
David Davis (left) celebrates scoring against Villa
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"After that, it's just a blur. I want to go and give it massive in front of their fans, but also I’m directing it towards my missus' uncle because he couldn't get tickets in the Villa end, but he’s sat in the Blues end family section.
"I'm going to go and give it absolutely massive. It’s vicious, isn't it?"