Nigel Pearson has emphasised the importance of Bristol City developing home grown talent after confirming professional deals for six of the brightest talents coming through the youth ranks at Ashton Gate.
A year after City granted long-term contracts to six youngsters, four of which are now firmly part of the first-team, they have followed suit with the latest intake, who Pearson hopes can make the leap from Under-23s football into the senior set-up.
Full-back Callum Wood and centre-back Jamie Knight-Lebel, recently called up by Canada at youth level, have signed three-year contracts, goalkeeper Mac Boyd has a two-year deal while midfielders Tommy Backwell and Omar Taylor-Clarke and forward Seb Palmer Houlden have each been awarded a one-year agreement.
