Rumours of a third January bid from Championship rivals AFC Bournemouth were doing the rounds last week but Rowett says that Gray should stay put at St Andrews until an opportunity further up the league ladder comes his way.
Birmingham City 1-2 West Bromwich Albion
The FA Cup
Fourth Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 24 January 2015
St. Andrews, Birmingham City
Winners receive £90,000 from prize fund
"I think he is a fantastic talent and I think he is best served being here until an opportunity comes his way which is befitting of his talent," said the Blues boss after his side’s 2-1 FA Cup defeat to West Bromwich Albion.
"For me at the moment, it is probably only a top four team that can do that and that’s not being disrespectful to anyone else."
Gray started as a substitute for the Fourth Round tie before coming on to make an impact with two tremendous efforts, which England stopper Ben Foster proved equal to.
And Rowett admits the youngster’s omission was a conscious effort on his part to take him out the spotlight.
"I had just felt that it has been a big month for him and there’s a lot of speculation, it was a big game and I just wondered if it might just be a bit too much for an 18-year-old," he said.
"That’s why I took him out the limelight for a little bit.
Demarai Gray in action for Birmingham City this season
"I also thought his pace and trickery might be best served later on in the game.
"When he came on, he showed what he’s all about."
regardless of their second-half pressure, Blues couldn’t recover from Victor Anichebe’s two first-half strikes despite Jonathan Grounds reducing the arrears on the stroke of half time.
Nonetheless, the Birmingham boss believes his players may well have got less than their second-half efforts warranted.
"Second half, I don’t think we could have done a lot more," he reflected after the game.
"I think I heard Tony [Pulis] on 86 minutes ask the ref how long was to go and at that point you know they are getting slightly edgy.
"I think that is testament to our players."
