Town striker Stephens on target in Birmingham City under-23s trial

BIRMINGHAM City under-23s manager Richard Beale was impressed with Stratford Town's Ben Stephens in his first trial game for the EFL Championship side.

The 20-year-old scored the opening goal in the Blues' 2-0 victory over Cardiff under-23s at the Cardiff City Stadium on Monday night.

Beale felt Stephens was "one to watch" after seeing him in action and under-23s boss plans to hand him another starting role in Friday's English Professional Development League game against Nottingham Forest at St Andrew's.

“I thought he was excellent,” Beale told the club's official website.

“He played well with the ball, and was good without it, tracking back with his runners. He did the other side of the game and that was the test of him, really. He’s certainly one to watch.

“Anyone who does well in the leagues locally we go and watch them. We keep eyes on them. We got him in for a couple of days a week back but he couldn’t stay with us. We’ve got him back in now and he’s done himself no harm.

“Such boys in local leagues are very, very hungry. They have seen the other side of it, they relish the chance when they get it."

Stephens' sublime form this season, which has seen him net 21 times in 42 games for Stratford, has also attracted the attention of Coventry City and Ipswich Town.