Chris Hughton has been handed a striker headache after three of Birmingham City's key men fell to injury.

Nikola Zigic has undergone surgery to correct a nagging groin complaint.

And Marlon King and Cameron Jerome are having to sit it out for the time being to rest their ailments. That pair are also set to miss the start of the Championship.

Hughton will go into Blues' next pre-season friendly at Hereford United on Saturday (3pm) with Adam Rooney, Akwasi Asante and Jake Jervis as his recognised strike force.

It’s an obvious cause for concern, nothwithstanding the uncertain futures of Zigic and Jerome.

Hughton is making inquiries for strikers and other players to boost the ranks, and does envisage more signings to come.

Newcastle United’s Nile Ranger is of interest, with talk of a potential loan deal.

Zigic has had a miserable time of it since his heroics in February’s Carling Cup final victory.

The opening scorer at Wembley against Arsenal, he managed only two substitute appearances in the months to the season’s end.

His hip and groin caused him too much pain and he underwent a specially-tailored rehabilitation programme over the summer.

But it was felt in the closing weeks of Blues' ill-fated campaign that surgery might well be required if there was no improvement.

That has come to pass and although no timescale has been put on Zigic’s recovery, a minimum spell of four weeks out is usual in such cases.

Jerome has been hampered by an ankle injury since last season and been ordered to take things easy in a bid to help the joint heal.

He has not been able to join in full training and missed the short training camp in Ireland and pre-season match against Cork City.

It could be a fortnight or so before Jerome steps things up and the same could apply in King’s case.