“I’ve given him every job you could possibly have on a football pitch this season, all positions, and he’s full blooded, full hearted and he’s 100 percent every day and he’s 100 percent every game.”

Chris Davies summed Taylor Gardner-Hickman up perfectly after the midfielder put in a stellar display during Birmingham City’s comeback victory over Rotherham United on Saturday. The timing of the announcement that Blues have taken up their option to sign Gardner-Hickman permanently from Bristol City is very fitting.

Blues have bagged a 23-year-old player with his best years to come, and one who has shown week-on-week improvement this season under the tutelage of Davies. The fact Davies has sometimes preferred to play Gardner-Hickman out of position ahead of established right-backs and wingers speaks volumes.

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This is a player who can take on instructions and put them into practice. Davies would say he’s reliable and Gardner-Hickman is most definitely coachable.

Having already made 95 appearances in the Championship at his previous clubs West Bromwich Albion and Bristol City, Gardner-Hickman is a useful tool for Davies to have if, as expected, Blues win promotion this season. A bigger squad will be needed due to the nine substitutes rule and Gardner-Hickman has proved he won’t bleat if he doesn’t always play.

Gardner-Hickman offers the type of versatility every squad needs and, due to his age, has the opportunity to grow alongside Blues. It is worth mentioning that Gardner-Hickman is one of just four Blues players – Christoph Klarer, Marc Leonard and Alfie May being the others – who haven’t missed a game through injury or illness this season. He is durable, too.

It has been a no brainer for a while, but Blues have removed any doubt over an important player’s future by acting decisively.

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