Blues teenager Krystian Pearce will benefit from playing in the "blood and thunder" of League Two football for Notts County.

That is the view of Academy coach Steve Spooner when questioned about the England U19 international's weekend debut for the Magpies in their 3-0 FA Cup win over Histon.

Pearce is very highly regarded by the Blues Academy staff and he is being tipped as the next young player to breakthrough the ranks to play first team football for Blues.

"It is fantastic and exactly what he needs to bring him on to that next stage of his career," said Spooner about the defender's move to Meadow Lane.

"He has reached such a level that youth team football is becoming too easy for him and, whilst he is still a youngster himself, he has the physical presence to go and play men's football.

"He now needs to go and learn a bit about the blood and thunder of lower league football where it is very competitive, you won't get much time on the ball and the opponents will be ready to 'sort you out'.

"Krystian needs to experience that now and it is all part of his core development as a professional player."

Pearce played the full game in the weekend victory over the Blue Square Premier opponents and Blues have had good reports back.

"Keith (Bertschin) went to watch him and he was impressed with what he saw," Spooner added.

"When I saw the result I was disappointed he didn't score! He is more than capable of scoring as he has shown recently for England.

"But first things first, going to a new club and making his debut in first team football, it was important that he did what a defender should do and defended resolutely, the feedback has been very good."