Striker Options in need of a boost

Towards the back end of last season, Blues` strike force was in need of an injection of energy. Clayton Donaldson was the mainstay of the team and, after recovering from an injury picked up whilst away on international duty with Jamaica, ran himself into the ground.

With James Vaughan suffering from niggling injuries throughout the campaign and reportedly not having completed a full pre-season schedule for four years, back-up options beyond Donaldson were sparse – one being rookie striker Nicolai Brock-Madsen – until Kyle Lafferty was drafted in on loan from Norwich City.

Donaldson still has a couple of years left in the tank, Vaughan could be a huge asset given a full summer to prepare and Brock-Madsen should be left to develop.

Last week`s reports linking Blues with Manchester United striker James Wilson were most welcome. The 20 year-old has just spent a season on loan at Brighton but spent a lot of that time on the bench. With Jose Mourinho taking the reins at Old Trafford, Wilson is unlikely to get a look in to the first team picture which could result in another season long loan deal elsewhere with Gary Rowett said to be keen on bringing him to St. Andrew`s.

Wilson could be exactly what Blues need – a young, energetic striker who knows where the net is. Whether targeting another striker means Rowett will opt for a two man forward line – or doesn`t fancy Vaughan to stake a serious claim – is unclear. But putting the ball in the back of the net was the core of Blues` problems last term and, as good as Donaldson is at doing the mucky work, he had the service to contribute more than his eventual 11 goal haul.