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Cameron Jerome believes Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones would be a "top addition" to the Birmingham squad and would welcome the competition for places.

Blues boss Alex McLeish has his sights set on signing Jones during the January transfer window and is understood to have made a firm inquiry for the Trinidad and Tobago international.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce would be receptive to allowing Jones to leave if any offer matched his minimum asking price of £11 million.

And City forward Jerome would welcome the arrival of Jones to challenge himself, Christian Benitez and veteran Kevin Phillips for places upfront as he prepares for tonight's home clash with Manchester United.

Jerome said: "Would I welcome a signing like Kenwyne Jones? Definitely, I'd welcome that sort of competition.

"We've got a thin squad here and obviously we're losing a couple of players at the weekend due to injury (Lee Carsley and Stuart Parnaby).

"We're down to our bare bones. Myself and 'Chucho' (Benitez) have done a good job up front so far but it would be good to have one or even two strikers in.

"Kevin Phillips has not really featured much this season for whatever reason and the manager feels like he needs to strengthen the squad and most players would agree with that.

"We're on a good run, a bit of a purple patch at the moment. We've been lucky with injuries to our starting XI. But if anyone was ruled out, then there's not too much cover in the squad and I think that's what is needed, some players in."

Jerome added: "Jones would definitely be a good addition. He has played in the Premier League for a number of years and he's a good old-fashioned centre forward.

"From my personal point of view, I'd love to play off somebody like him. It's crying out for myself to play off a big striker rather than myself being the big striker someone else plays off.

"I'd love somebody of that stature and calibre to come into Birmingham. I think he would benefit the team as well.

"But, whoever the manager brings in, I'm sure it's going to be quality added to the squad, not just quantity."

Jerome is confident City can cause problems for United but is wary of a backlash after their shock FA Cup reversal against Leeds last weekend.

He said: "We played relatively well at the beginning of the season at Old Trafford and were unlucky to lose by the one goal.

"Now we're 11 games unbeaten in the Premier League and United have hit a bit of a sticky patch. We're going into the game full of confidence, hoping we can cause an upset.

"But we know there could be a backlash after their cup defeat. There is no doubting the quality they have got, world-class players throughout their squad."