The veteran has been impressed by the rookies at Birmingham City.

Paul Robinson, Blues' 34-year-old defender, said the emerging St Andrew’s youngsters have captured his imagination.

Blues have given debuts to five teenagers this season.

And the likes of Jack Butland, Callum Reilly and Mitchell Hancox have become regulars in the first team squad if not the team, joining Nathan Redmond.

“I have been very impressed,” said Robinson. “They are very level-headed kids, their attitudes are good and they work very hard on the training pitch.

“They always want to improve, and that’s the best way. They will get better and move on to bigger things, without a doubt.

“I can see it in some of them. They have got great quality and the right head on their shoulders, which always helps.”

Robinson believes that you need a mixture of experience and youth in the Championship, which is such a demanding league.

But he is a champion of fledgling talent, which has to be nurtured if the game is to prosper at national level.

“The quality of young lads here, it seems to have got better.

“It reminds me of my time at Watford, because of the youth policy we had there and the youngsters who came through to the first team.

“It’s similar to here and it’s great to see. It’s what we need.

“We need the young British lads coming through and getting their chance to go on and to try to achieve better things in their careers, to try and play for their countries.

“That’s what we need instead of pushing them out the door and letting them struggle later on in life. The FA are always moaning about youngsters not coming through.

“Well, they’re not helping much. Simple as.

“They’re not helping the youngsters when they do get released from clubs. They have got to help them out to find other clubs to progress to that level they want to progress to.”

One Blues player in particular who draws on Robinson’s experience and advice is fellow left-back Hancox.

“I love Mitch to bits,” said Robinson. “Callum as well, Nath, Jack – all the lads who are playing at the moment are great lads to be around because they want to enjoy their football, they want to learn and when they want help, they ask for it.

“With Mitch playing left-back it’s perfect for me and perfect for him. He’s a great lad and I am helping him as much as I can.”