Birmingham City striker Cameron Jerome says Nikola Zigic needs time to settle in

Dec 10 2010 by Gregg Evans, Birmingham Mail

Birmingham City fans need to be patient with Nikola Zigic and give him time to settle in, says Cameron Jerome.

The giant Serbian has received his fair share of criticism since arriving at St Andrew’s in a £6 million summer deal from Valencia.

But the 30-year-old has started to show signs in the past few weeks that he is beginning to mould into a Premier League forward.

Last week he scored the winner against Villa in the Carling Cup quarter-final and also set up Craig Gardner for his equaliser against Spurs.

Zigic could now be in line for a start at Molineux when Blues visit Wolves on Sunday.

But his strike partner, Jerome, says it will take a while before fans see the best of the 6ft 7in hitman and has urged them to be patient while he progresses.

“He’s just finding his feet still,” said Jerome.

“He’s been getting a little bit of stick but I think people have got to be a little bit patient with him and let him settle in at his own pace.

“Once he does that and he gets good balls and good service, he’s shown what he can do with it.

“It’s hard enough getting the ball lumped up to you, I’m a striker myself so I know that, because that’s all you seem to do.

“But when you get good service he’s shown what he can do.

“Obviously he’s got his qualities else we wouldn’t have signed him.