Charlie Lakin is determined to use his spell with Ross County to show why Birmingham City were wrong to let him leave on loan.
Midfielder Lakin has joined the Staggies on a season-long deal, having found game time limited at the English Championship club following a successful loan spell with League Two side Stevenage last season.
The 21-year-old had impressed in pre-season, starting in a friendly against Tottenham before being selected for the Blues’ opening Carabao Cup Cup tie against Cambridge in September.
That has proven to be Lakin’s only competitive action so far this term, with a flurry of signings by manager Aitor Karanka forcing him down the pecking order.
Lakin is eager to use his spell in Dingwall to prove a point, and he said: “I started the season really well. I started pretty much every game in pre-season and I was in the stronger of the two Birmingham teams they were playing.
“It was looking positive and starting the cup game against Cambridge was another positive. I thought it was going to be a good season for me.
“As the manager brought in more players, which obviously you’re expecting, circumstances changed.
“I didn’t think I’d be starting every game in the league. I knew the manager would be bringing players in, but when he brought as many in as he did, it was disappointing for myself.
“But I know I did well and it is the manager’s prerogative.
“I definitely have a point to prove to Birmingham. That’s what I aim to do – come here, help Ross County as much as I can and, by doing that, I’m going to prove a point to Birmingham.
“Hopefully, they’ll be thinking they shouldn’t have let me go out.”
Among Lakin’s younger contemporaries at St Andrew’s was teenager Jude Bellingham, who earned a £25 million move to Borussia Dortmund at the age of 17 during the summer.
Lakin says Bellingham is a source of inspiration for the Blues’ young prospects, adding: “Jude was three years younger but I played with him and trained with him a lot.
“I was on loan last season, but I trained with him in lockdown and the year before with the under 23s.
“He’s a very special talent, to do what he’s done at 17 years of age. For people who haven’t seen him, but hear about him, what you hear is true – he is different.”
Lakin could make his County debut in tonight’s Betfred Cup tie away to Montrose, with the Solihull-born player insisting he is ready to be thrust into action.
He added: “I’ve been training every day back at Blues, playing matches including a friendly last Saturday. I feel fully fit.
“I’m a generally fit lad anyway so I’m ready to go. Hopefully I get the go-ahead against Montrose and I can hit the ground running.”