Obafemi Martins can bring an 'extra dimension' to Birmingham's attack, according to Cameron Jerome.
Jerome wants to recreate productive Benitez partnership
Obafemi Martins can bring an 'extra dimension' to Birmingham's attack, according to new strike partner Cameron Jerome.
Former Newcastle forward Martins is expected to make his St Andrews debut in Saturday's meeting with Stoke having been granted a visa to complete his loan move from Rubin Kazan.
The 26-year-old was criticised for a perceived negative attitude at times during his career at St James' Park, but Jerome hopes to strike up a lethal combination with the Nigerian.
He said: "Obafemi has played in the Premier League before and is an international player so he will add something different, a new dimension to our strike force.
"He is not one who has got to come in and find his feet in the Premier League.
"He knows how to play and, from what we have seen of him before at Newcastle, he seems to be a very explosive player.
Calibre
"That is what we need at the moment. We need that extra dimension up front.
"Hopefully he can come in and settle quickly and we can make best use of him from now to the end of the season."
Birmingham are struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League after scoring just 24 goals, the lowest total in the division, and Jerome wants to recreate the partnership he enjoyed with Christian Benitez last season.
Jerome added: "I'm looking forward to playing with someone like it was last year with myself and Christian Benitez.
"We caused defences headaches, we terrorised defences.
"Martins is of that calibre, that explosive player, that jack in the box, and hopefully he can be good for us."
