'A big inspiration' - Birmingham star reveals how NFL legend Tom Brady is 'such a great help' as Blues battle Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham for promotion

Record League One signing Stansfield has spoken about how much of a blessing it is to have the seven-time Super Bowl champion involved at the club. The former Fulham man also revealed how Brady gave an inspirational speech earlier this season to his team and it worked wonders.

He told BBC's Match of the Day: "They have all been amazing. Last year I remember having a Zoom call in a hotel. He [Brady] sat us down as a whole team, I think it was the massive game before Rotherham and we needed to get three points. He gave a massive motivational speech. He's a big inspiration to a lot of people and to have him so close to the club, such a motivator, to be able to deal with things and deal with the pressure, everything he's gone through. To be able to put it into young players like our team is such a great help."

Birmingham are looking well set to secure an immediate return to the Championship, with minority owner Brady and US-based Shelby Companies Limited at the helm. They sit top of League One and are eight points above third-placed Wrexham, who sit just outside the automatic promotion spots. Both teams, who have North American owners, have big plans for the future and are looking to get out of the English third-tier at the first time of asking.

Stansfield's Birmingham will look to continue their good form when they host Premier League side Newcastle United in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday evening.