"A monster" - David Prutton issues exciting Birmingham City claim amid Aston Villa comparison | OneFootball

Blues are looking to return to the Premier League as swiftly as possible

Sky Sports pundit David Prutton believes Birmingham City's ownership group, Knighthead Capital Management, have "created a monster" as their well-documented aims of a Premier League return continue.

A generation of Bluenoses haven't seen the riches of the top-flight, with the club last featuring in the division during the 2010/11 season - a campaign which brought the club's second major honour in the form of the EFL Cup, as well as relegation to the Championship.

After breaking several records during their solitary season in League One last time out, Chris Davies is, once again, expected to receive the necessary backing required to mount an immediate challenge for the play-off places at the very least, with Wagner publically revealing his hopes of back-to-back promotions and the prospects of facing off against Aston Villa in the Second City Derby once again.

These on-pitch dreams have coincided with further developments surrounding the building of the upcoming 62,000-seater stadium and Sports Quarter complex in Bordesley Green, with Wagner hoping the process will be completed by 2030.

Many outsiders are intrigued to see how the EFL points record-holders will fare in the second tier this term, especially when facing off against the likes of Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Southampton and the equally ambitious Wrexham, with Prutton issuing high praise to those making the decisions at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

David Prutton issues "monster" Birmingham City verdict ahead of Championship return

Speaking to EFL guru and content creator, Benjamin Bloom on YouTube, the former Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder believes Blues fans have every right to feel the way they do about developments at St Andrew's at present, especially when comparing it to the recent success enjoyed by Villa, who reached last season's UEFA Champions League quarter-finals and have progressed majorly under the ownership of NSWE and management of Unai Emery.

"(You get) that sense of what they believe themselves to be, which is absolutely right," Prutton stated. "A huge football club in a city where their deadliest rivals have been doing so wonderfully well after climbing up and out of the Championship.

"That club (Villa) really has evolved, hasn't it, and it's gone from strength to strength," he added.

"But, what they (Birmingham) have done is create a monster," the pundit claimed. "And I mean a monster in the most complimentary of senses, because, what the question was 'what do they do in League One?'

"Do they do what a Leeds team did when I was there and flounder for a little bit? Sheffield Wednesday as well, making sure that they were getting themselves back up. These huge football clubs that have dropped down, which is what Birmingham City would have been.

"They meant business," he added. "I remember speaking at the EFL Awards with Chris (Davies). Maybe it's because I don't know him too well, but he's very businesslike.

"I think their business model - I'm sorry to talk about football as a business but it actually is - parlayed into how they performed on the pitch with the right people, stunning," Prutton explained.

"There's chats, obviously, about, what they want to do in the Championship. Ipswich being the perfect example of being able to bounce through, so there is an example and a precedent set there to a degree.

"But they do firmly look like they're set up in that way from a playing staff point of view, a management point of view, a finances point of view."

Birmingham City's ambitions could stem from early-season indications

Whilst a Championship season never hinges solely on the opening weeks and months, it could give a strong indication of what Blues can achieve across 46 games, especially if more high-profile additions are to come through the door.

The opening night of the season sees Davies' men face off against Ipswich, who are immediately among the sides expected to challenge for the title under Kieran McKenna, with St Andrew's already sold out for that particular encounter.

Blackburn Rovers are Birmingham's first test on the road, with Valerien Ismael's side somewhat in disarray this off-season despite finishing in seventh last term, whilst matchups against Oxford United and Leicester City will also provide stern tests in differing ways, with the Foxes also newly-relegated from the Premier League and still boasting a high-quality squad for the level.

Blues showed a strong level of fearlessness and a handling of pressure last season, and if that is to be replicated, then Prutton's description of a "monster" may not sound as wild to some when the season ends in 10 months time.