Blues boss Paul Lambert has praised Jon Nolan and Gwion Edwards, two of the lower league players who joined Town in the summer ahead of what’s been a far from an easy season to make a transition into Championship football.
"Very good, I like the way Nolan plays the game, he’s unassuming,” Lambert said when asked about the former Shrewsbury man’s recent form. "I’d love him to be more assertive because I think he’d got that in his game.
"I think he’s got great energy for a midfielder, he makes great runs as well. Again, a young lad who has only been here one season and felt the effects of everything like everybody else. But his performances have been very, very good.”
Lambert says players sometimes need time to adapt when they move up a division, as Nolan, Edwards and several more of former boss Paul Hurst’s summer recruits did.
"Some guys can hit the ground running right away, some guys it might take them a year or so to find their feet,” he added.
"I’ve played with guys that took time and I’ve played with guys that hit the ground running straight away.
"You just have to be patient with them and then hopefully everybody sees the benefit of it. If they don’t hit the ground running, they see it in their second season.”
He continued: "It’s been a difficult season for them coming in. But I guarantee if you asked them all what they expected, I’m pretty sure they never expected this.
"But it happens and you sleepwalk into things if you’re not careful and I think that’s what’s happened to the club.”
Edwards, who signed from Peterborough in pre-season, made a bright start to the season before fading and then having a spell on the sidelines with a groin injury, which eventually required an injection.
"I thought he did really well last Saturday, I thought he did well,” Lambert said of the Welshman. "He’s training really well, Gwion.
"I’ve got no problem with him. The injury did keep him out for a few weeks but he’s probably looking like his old self. I’m glad that he’s back and in the frame.”