Blues confirm interest in John Carew

Birmingham have confirmed former Villa striker John Carew is on their radar - and manager Chris Hughton still hopes to keep Cameron Jerome and Scott Dann.

Carew is a free agent after his Villa contract expired at the end of last season and Hughton, who is preparing for tomorrow's Championship opener at Derby County, is weighing up offering the Norway international a deal.

Blues, who were heavily criticised last season for a lack of firepower, are short of attacking options with three strikers injured.

Jerome, Nikola Zigic and new-boy Marlon King are all out of tomorrow's game and Hughton wants to add to his forward line.

He said: "I think the better players who are available will always be on our radar. He will be one of numerous names on our radar."

The Blues boss also insisted he was no longer resigned to losing star players Dann and Jerome.

Bolton have revived their interest in Jerome, but the player may end up staying at St. Andrew's if no one meets the asking price.

Hughton said: "I've always known we might lose some players. But what I'm also conscious of is that any player who does leave will leave on the right terms for this club.

"If that's not the case, I'll be fortunate enough to have them playing for me."

Despite the club's financial crisis, Hughton wants to challenge for promotion back to the Premier League.

He said: "At club level you have to look to achieve the best you can. The best for us now, ultimately, is getting promotion back to the Premier League.

"I think we have to have that in the back of our minds. The expectations and the challenges everyone has here needs to be very much to do the best we can.

"I do think expectations have lessened because not only of where we are, but because of the quality of the other teams and how they're spending.

"But we have to have a go."

Dann has recovered from a calf strain that kept him out of the last two friendlies but may not be ready for tomorrow.