Walsall duo remember Jude Bellingham's meteoric rise at Birmingham

Walsall defender Rico Browne knew Birmingham City had a pearl on their hands from the moment he met Jude Bellingham. 

The England and Real Madrid star was part of a strong generation at Birmingham, which included the likes of Stade Rennes midfielder Jordan James, Jude's younger brother Jobe and Saddlers loanees George Hall and Alfie Chang. 

Then, there was Walsall's midfield pair Ryan Stirk and Charlie Lakin, two or three years his senior, and Browne himself. 

But it was clear to Browne that Bellingham was always a cut above the rest and it has come as no surprise that he has reached the very top.

"That specific generation of players from three years older to my age group. We had Jude and his brother Jobe was two years younger but would always play with our age," Browne recalls.

"Then you had George Hall, Jordan James, Stirky and Charlie Lakin. We had so many good players and that only helps make you a better player.

"At the age Jude was, you'd finish a session and walk past the first team. If some of your mates had stepped up, you'd just be watching to see how they were doing. 

"Most of them would just be trying to be steady but he'd be in there dictating the session. 

"You always had that feeling that he would go far. It was one of those where you were playing with him and now he is No. 5 at Real Madrid and one of England's best players. 

"It's crazy but he is and always has been an unbelievable player."

Stirk was on the bench for Bellingham's Birmingham bow which ended in a 3-0 defeat at Portsmouth in the League Cup in August 2019. 

Nine months later, Bellingham, still aged just 17, had scored four times in 44 appearances and was voted EFL Young Player of the Year. 

Birmingham even retired his No. 22 shirt after he became the most expensive 17-year-old in history following his big-money move to Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund. 

Today, Bellingham is one of, if not the biggest name in European football, but Stirk can only see him going from strength to strength. 

"Jude is a few years younger than me but played with us all the way through the academy as he played up a few years," he reflects.

"He was a great player. I know it's easy for me to say now but he was. It's unbelievable what he is doing for club and country and a lot of young players can look up to that. 

"You could always see he was going to go far but to do what he has done so quickly is truly amazing. 

"He always gave 100 per cent and I feel he will keep going from strength to strength." 

Has global fame changed him? Some like to suggest it has, but for Stirk, his former Birmingham teammate remains the same humble character that he has always known.

"I spoke to him after the Euros and I drop him a message here and there to see how he is doing," he reveals.

"He'll always reply because that is the type of person he is and I feel like he'd be like that with everyone."