Jay Stansfield outlines 'uncontrollable' Birmingham City promise in strong response to critics

Stansfield’s second league debut for Blues couldn’t have gone much better as he scored twice in a 3-1 win over fellow League One promotion hopefuls Wrexham.

It was one of the most highly anticipated English third tier fixtures in history, attracting the likes of Tom Brady, Rob McElhenney and David Beckham to attend. There was a sell-out crowd of 27,980 spectators packed into St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, while there was heaps of talk about the £12 million fee paid for Stansfield’s Blues return.

“The price tag is out of my hands, I can’t control what someone has paid for me,” Stansfield said in response during the post-match press conference. “As a footballer, you just like the pressure and I like people speaking about me - if that’s good or bad - and you have to go out to make it fuel you.”

Stansfield, still just 21 years of age, was a fan favourite last term as he scored 13 Championship goals on loan from Fulham and claimed every individual accolade at the end of season rewards. A huge transfer saga followed the striker for the entire summer window before Blues eventually obliterated the League One transfer record.

Even Stansfield, who loves the club and was always hopeful of a return one day, wasn’t convinced he’d be arriving back St Andrew’s as quickly as he did.

“I didn’t think it would be this soon! But what’s happening with the club and with the owners is amazing. For it to happen this soon, I was buzzing,” Stansfield said.

“People might say I’ve gone two steps backwards but that’s only to go forwards in the future with this football club. Our aim as a club is to get to the Premier League. If that’s in three years, if that’s in four years, even five, it is what it will be.

“Our aim is to get over the line this season. There is still a way to go and there will be ups and downs, but as a team and a club we will all stick together.”