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

Robbie Blake has revealed how he advised Paul Cook to recruit Daniel James for Pompey.
Daniel James hadn't made a first-team league appearance when he impressed Robbie Blake for Swansea against Pompey in the Premier League Cup in May 2017. Picture: GEOFF CADDICK/AFP via Getty ImagesDaniel James hadn't made a first-team league appearance when he impressed Robbie Blake for Swansea against Pompey in the Premier League Cup in May 2017. Picture: GEOFF CADDICK/AFP via Getty Images
Daniel James hadn't made a first-team league appearance when he impressed Robbie Blake for Swansea against Pompey in the Premier League Cup in May 2017. Picture: GEOFF CADDICK/AFP via Getty Images

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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

Robbie Blake insists he told Pompey to sign Daniel James three years against after impressing against them. Picture: Jan Kruger/Getty ImagesRobbie Blake insists he told Pompey to sign Daniel James three years against after impressing against them. Picture: Jan Kruger/Getty Images
Robbie Blake insists he told Pompey to sign Daniel James three years against after impressing against them. Picture: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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.’

A message from the Editor

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this story on portsmouth.co.uk. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to portsmouth.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit our Subscription page now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.