Demarai Gray: Birmingham City teenager proud of first hat-trick

Birmingham City forward Demarai Gray had only scored once this season for Blues before Saturday's treble

Birmingham City teenage forward Demarai Gray is keen to build on the feeling of local pride he got from registering his first professional hat-trick.

The 18-year-old claimed a treble in the space of 34 first-half minutes in Saturday's 6-1 thrashing of Reading.

"It was a nice feeling for myself," he told BBC WM. "I'm a Birmingham boy and I've been at the club since I was 10.

"I know fans like to see local players and playing for the Blues first team means everything to me."

Gray, who made his debut in October 2013 as a 17-year-old, netted his first Blues goal in April in a 4-2 home defeat by Blackburn and scored for the first time this season in September's 2-2 draw at Norwich.

But he admits that for all the creative ability he has shown in his 10 starts for Blues, he always thought he had more goals in him.

"I've been looking to score more goals," he added. "Now I just want to kick on for the rest of the season.

"With Andy Shinnie in there, it makes it more difficult for the opposition and creates more space for me and David Cotterill."

Birmingham, who have climbed to 15th in the Championship table, have lost just one of their seven matches since Gary Rowett took charge on 27 October, lifting them seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Blues have revealed that former chairman Peter Pannu has now severed all ties with the club.

Just four days after resigning from the Blues board, his roles of managing director and chief executive have been terminated with City's parent company Birmingham International Holdings Ltd, who feel it "inappropriate" for him to carry on.