Birmingham City midfielder Onel Hernandez believes Lee Bowyer can bring best out of him at Blues

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The Norwich City loanee is hoping his first goal for Blues is just the start

Birmingham City midfielder Onel Hernandez was full of praise for manager Lee Bowyer following the victory over Barnsley, claiming the manager’s faith in him is something he feels he’s been missing in recent times.

Hernandez, on loan from Norwich City, joined Blues at the beginning of the January window and will stay with the club until the end of the season.

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He spent the first half of the campaign with Championship rivals Middlesbrough but wasn’t getting the minutes he craved, something he admits had a detrimental affect on his confidence.

The 28-year-old, who plays internationally for Cuba, says Bowyer was the main reason he chose to make the switch to Birmingham City and praised the boss for helping him regain some belief in himself.

Hernandez netted his first goal in royal blue in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Barnsley and adds that he hopes that’s just the start of a very successful second-half of the season, for both the team and him personally.

“A lot,” said the Cuban when asked what he’s hoping to achieve between now and May.

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“Firstly I am here to help the club and in good conversations with the gaffer he said you can work on your game and that is very important for me.

“I have to work. I am 28, I’m not 19, and there is a lot still to do and that’s why this was the first thing I was thinking about and the conversation was very brilliant with him.

“I think (the best is yet to come).

“For me, it is important to get the trust and the belief from the coach and it was sometimes difficult in the past and I also had some injuries and you have never been on your level (at your best).

“But if you get the trust and someone believes in you, and you keep working, then I think there is more to come from me, 100 per cent.

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“I’ve got that trust with Lee. He is very good with players. You see it every day on the training ground.

“He speaks to the young lads, he helps the experienced lads, he explains ‘what can you do better’ and he has helped with me.

“Straight away he said you can work on that and that and that and that is very good and important for a player.”

Something I noted during the game on Saturday was the acceleration the 28-year-old had to offer.

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His turn of pace when he got away from his man was something Blues haven’t had from a player, not just this season, but for years.

The way he calmly slotted into the bottom corner, too. This is a man that’s low on confidence, according to both Bowyer and the man himself.

And it was evident with how he described the goal too, saying he’s happy to score but was more happy with the trust both his manager and teammates put into him.

The celebration wasn’t bad either, an acrobatic somersault that matched the goal in terms of quality.

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But maybe we’ll leave that one in future considering Hernandez admitted he hadn’t done one for a very long time and was ‘scared’ before taking flight!

“It was not the best because I’ve not done it for a few years,” he said.

“I was very scared. I just wanted to do it but I was scared I would fall on my face.

“I don’t have the practice but everything worked out today.

“I hadn’t decided to do it before. I was just emotional and I just jumped in the air and it worked out.

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