Robbie Blake: I told Portsmouth to get Daniel James from Swansea - now he's a Manchester United star

But the then-Blues boss was put off by the age of a winger who at that point didn’t have a league appearance.

Now the Welsh international has made 37 appearances and scored four times since recruited by Manchester United.

The Premier League giants paid £15m to secure James from Championship Swansea in June 2019.

However, Blake had been championing the forward following a dazzling display against Pompey’s under-23s in May 2017.

The Blues lost the Premier League Cup semi-final fixture 3-0 at Swansea’s Landore training ground.

Current Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie netted twice, while present Swans first-team regulars Joe Rodon, George Byers, Connor Roberts and Jay Fulton also featured.

Yet for Blake, who was overseeing the young Blues alongside Mikey Harris, one player stood out.

He told The News: ‘Cookie knows a player and is a really good manager.

‘Although he didn't take the player I told him to take – which was Daniel James at Swansea!

‘He asked me “Out of all the under-23 games you’ve seen, which player would you take?”. I told him James. He was only 19, he’d be brilliant.

‘Cookie replied: “He’s a player all right, but he might be a bit too young”.

‘Then when Kenny came in as manager, I also told him to go and get James.

‘After I had left Pompey, I received a text from Joe Gallen saying “You were right about James, he’s just gone to Manchester United for £15m!”.

James didn’t make his Championship debut for the Swans until August 2018 – 15 months later.

He went on to amass 39 appearances for the club, before departing for Old Trafford.

Blake added: ‘James was running Calvin Davies ragged down the left-hand side that day.

‘McBurnie played as well, as did Connor Roberts, for plays for their first-team now. They had a quality side.

‘James was unplayable and I told that to Cookie. If you show those attributes when you get the ball, then you’re going to be wanted by other clubs.’

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