Everton-Birmingham City Preview

Mar 11, 2010 - 3:34 PM MARK HENDRY STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is backing strikers Cameron Jerome and Christian Benitez to get the goals to earn their club's first top ten finish for 54 years.

Birmingham meet Everton at St Andrew's on Saturday occupying eighth place and if they stay there it will be the club's best performance since 1955-1956 when Arthur Turner was in charge.

McLeish said: "There is talk of us pushing on for a place in the Europa League next season but to do that we have to finish in seventh place and I do not think it is realistic.

"For that to happen you need a couple of strikers on 15 or 16 goals by now and ours are not anywhere near that."

Jerome's goals in the 2-1 win at Portsmouth in midweek took his tally to seven in the Premier League this season while Benitez has managed only three.

But McLeish is happy that Jerome and Benitez are beginning to strike up a partnership again after Benitez was forced by injury to step down.

McLeish said: "Cameron was unlucky not to get a hat-trick at Portsmouth and at the moment he is on fire in the box.

"Cameron is an instinctive finisher and better when he has less time to think about things.

"In many respects we are a team that defends from the front which means we don't get as many players forward enough at times.

"Benitez has not scored a lot but he has created many for other players, like his back-heel to set up Jerome for a goal at Portsmouth.

"They were our front two when we went on a 15-match unbeaten run not so long ago and I hope they will help do it again. With them we can think in terms of a top ten position at the end of the season."

McLeish has selection problems. After the 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Portsmouth, the Birmingham boss made changes for the league encounter between the sides four days later also at Fratton Park that ended with a 2-1 victory for the Blues.

Lee Bowyer was rested and Michel, Benitez and Craig Gardner all started after being left out of the first match at Portsmouth.

Everton are coming to terms with the impending loss of United States international Landon Donovan who has been a major success since arriving on loan from LA Galaxy.

Donovan has scored twice in seven starts during an impressive spell at Goodison Park but he is being recalled and Everton manager David Moyes will not put up a fight to keep the USA international.

Moyes said: "We hope to get Landon for some of next season so we don't want to upset anyone at LA Galaxy. Landon has done them and himself proud while he has been with us."

Moyes may start fit-again Phil Jagielka alongside Sylvain Distin in the heart of the defence after the pair were outstanding in the 5-1 win over Hull in midweek.