Redmond wants to Stay

NATHAN Redmond has outlined his determination to nail down a regular place in the Blues side.

And the teenage winger insisted he was approaching the coming season with no fear. Redmond announced himself to the football world with some exhilarating performances in 2011-12, not least during Blues’ Europa League campaign.

No longer a surprise package, he will have to cope with increased expectation levels and more knowing opponents – which doesn’t bother him in the slightest.

“It’s been quite a sharp and fast last 12 months,” he reflected here at Blues’ hotel in Austria.

“In that time I have grown up quite a lot in my everyday life.

“I am enjoying it, it’s stepping stones in my career.

“I feel like this year I am really part of the squad. Last year I was in and out. The gaffer did assure me I was part of it but this year I feel as if I have got a place to try to gain in the team and really make it mine. I’m still clutching on to the 18 years I have got, and I will keep the banter going with the lads. But I feel as if I am maturing as a player and person.”

Redmond made 16 starts last season – six in the Championship – and was used as a substitute on 21 occasions.

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He scored seven goals, the most memorable one a fizzing, low shot against CD Nacional that started the Europa League adventure in earnest.

“There’s going to be pressure and more teams know me, but I will be ready for all of that,” he said. “I don’t think it will be a problem for me.

“You can never be great every single game. That’s always how it’s been.

“I remember when Ronaldo scored 40 goals in one season and everyone expected him to do the same the next season – it’s impossible.

“All I can do is keep impressing the gaffer and keep learning. That’s the most important thing.

“The more I keep learning, the more I experience I gain as a professional, the more that will help.”

Redmond continued: “I’ve got Chris Burke here who gives me a lot of advice when we are playing. And Stephen Carr, too, who has come up against the top wingers in the world. He is always giving me pointers.

“Even if other teams are now more aware of me, it’s just about me adapting my game to that and doing what I am good at.

“If I do manage to play well and be consistent then that will be a credit to the staff and players around me.”

Redmond flew out with Blues to the Tirol two days after returning from England international duty in Estonia.

He helped the under-19s reach the semi-finals of the European Championship, another useful experience in his development.

Redmond said that stints with his country also helped him manage expectation.

He added: “It’s the same with England in that nothing ever changes. I’ve been there with them since I was 15, I am doing the same stuff now I was then through the age groups.

“It just carries on as you go through and that will be the same at Birmingham.

“I just need to keep doing my natural stuff, keep progressing and hopefully I will learn new things on the way and improve.”

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bluenosekev wrote:Redmond still aint the finished article by a long way, but I would start him in the first team against Charlton and then let him have a good run for a dozen games or so.

Where do you think his best position is tho ? on the left wing or behind a striker?

kro

evergreen blue wrote:
Got to agree with Kev and Raters, he's too easy marked out of the game on the left as he's not a natural left footer anyway. His best position is just behind the strikers were he can pick up the loose balls, and he does have a good shot on him, as we've all seen.

bluenosebryan wrote:He was good last year but this year he will be even better plus hes been away with the england under 19s so he will have a little bit more experiance