The north-east born striker began his career with hometown club Sunderland and it was whilst with the Black Cats that he first represented England, with the U19s side under Brian Eastick.
After impressing on a loan spell with Leicester City, he made a permanent move to the midlands and continued to develop there over the following seasons.
And he was rewarded with a call-up to Stuart Pearce's Under-21 side in the summer of 2011.