Cameron Jerome back with a bang
CAMERON Jerome is banking on his vibrant comeback from injury for the reserves last night acting as a major reminder to Alex McLeish about his strengths.
Jerome scored twice and earned a penalty in the 3-3 draw against Manchester United at St Andrew’s and says he is itching for involvement on Saturday in the Championship, in a position where he believes he’s at his best - up front.
Jerome, who tore a thigh muscle in training ahead of the August 23 Barnsley game, reckons the break from action may even have done him some good.
He was certainly looking very sharp and focused last night.
“It’s as if I’ve been away from football for a little bit and when that happens, because I love playing so much, it makes you all the more hungry.
“It’s funny, I feel good about having a couple of weeks out, it gives you that extra bit of motivation to come back flying and get in the team.
“It’s like a carrot dangling in front of you, and I hope that last night did me a lot of good.”
In the three games he has been available, Jerome has been thrown on as substitute twice in the league to great effect as a winger.
“I didn’t start the season, I’ve come on as substitute and I’ve been playing out of position on the wing.
“I love playing down the middle and last night was a perfect opportunity to show the manager ‘here I am and this is what I can do’ kind of thing, up front.
“I believe that’s what I’m capable of when I’m played down the middle and given the service, the right kind of balls.
“I will score goals in the Championship - I have done before - and I’m just desperate to play.”
McLeish is sympathetic to Jerome’s plight, but with four other top-line strikers to choose from, he doesn’t have an easy task fitting them all in.
“It is frustrating not being able to play in your favourite position,” admitted Jerome.
“I have spoken to the manager about it, he’s pulled me over and explained to me why he has put me out wide.
“He’s said I’ve done well there, which I know I have, and I have done a job for the team.
“He knows I want to play through the middle and I think I can be an asset if I play there and I am given the right service. We will just have to wait and see what happens.
“Who knows, I could end up playing the rest of the season through there or out wide.
“I suppose it is good having that option being able to play on the wing, it adds more things to your armoury really.”
Doncaster Rovers visit St Andrew’s on Saturday and Jerome says Blues will be keen to record another victory to build on their fine start to the season.
“We have got the ability to do that. If we show the discipline and right application in games, then we should be all right.
“We have got to go out there with the right attitude. If it is, and the application is spot-on, then I’m sure our ability will take care of the rest.
“If you said we’d have 10 points from the first four games we’d have taken that before we started. So we’ve got a platform to build on.
“We’ve got home games in the next two Saturdays so we’ve got to be thinking about getting the results there and also grinding it out in away games.”
Jerome added: “ I think we can improve, I don’t think we’ve clicked.
“I don’t think the manager knows his settled team yet. Maybe he has to give some people a run in the team and let them settle and gel, form partnerships, and see how that goes.
“That could be an option, but that’s down to him and he’s got a lot of competition for places, and that’s healthy.”
