Taylor Gardner-Hickman shares verdict on permanent Bristol City exit after Birmingham City loan

Taylor Gardner-Hickman has admitted he is hoping to convince Birmingham City to sign him permanently from Bristol City, having left Ashton Gate on loan during the summer transfer window.

The Robins signed the versatile midfielder on loan from West Brom in the summer of 2023 as Nigel Pearson looked to add some depth to his squad in central midfield and at right-back following Alex Scott's big-money move to Bournemouth.

Gardner-Hickman impressed in his first few months at Ashton Gate and now under the management of Liam Manning, City made the decision to make his stay permanent during the January transfer window, with Andi Weimann heading on loan to the Baggies at the same time.

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However, the 22-year-old struggled to hold down a consistent starting role under Manning in the second half of the season and, with minutes set to be limited this term in the West Country, Gardner-Hickman returned to the Midlands, joining Birmingham City on an initial loan deal while the Robins brought Marcus McGuane to BS3 to add some much-needed depth in the middle of the park.

Bristol Live understands Blues have the option to make the 22-year-old’s stay permanent for £1.5million if he impresses at St Andrew’s and the former West Brom man admits is hoping to impress Chris Davies and his staff in the coming weeks and months.

"I’m a Blues player for now and hopefully I show enough on the pitch and around the training ground to make them want to keep me on!" Gardner-Hickman told our sister publication Birmingham Live. "We’ll see what happens.

"Coming down from Bristol and being back home around family has made it easier for me to settle in. I settled in straight away and the boys have been absolutely class with me.”

Birmingham City currently sit third in the League One table, one point adrift of the automatic promotion places but with a game in hand on second-placed Wrexham and there is an expectation that Davies' side will win promotion back to the Championship this season having been relegated.

While the Blues' focus will now be on their league clash with City's local rivals Bristol Rovers on Saturday afternoon, they have also booked their place last 16 of the EFL Trophy having beaten Exeter City 2-1 on Tuesday evening.

Gardner-Hickman started and played the full 90 minutes at St James' Park and while the 22-year-old hasn't necessarily been a regular fixture of the Birmingham side this term, only starting seven of their opening 17 league matches, he insists he has enjoyed his time at St Andrew's so far.

"I love playing in front of these fans,” he said. “We have such a good away following. Credit to them for travelling three and a half, four hours, however long it was today. They showed up in their numbers and I feel like I’ve got a really good relationship with them.”

Although City have coped without Gardner-Hickman's presence in the middle of the park this term, the Robins could have done with him as an emergency option at right-back as Ross McCrorie, Mark Sykes and George Tanner have all spent time on the treatment table.

Fortunately, Zak Vyner and George Earthy have filled in well during the trio's absence, but the hope is it won't be too long until all three players are once again fit and available to start in Bristol City colours.

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