Clinton gambles on goals

Clinton Morrison has bet manager Steve Bruce that he will come back from injury to finish Birmingham’s leading scorer this season.

The Republic of Ireland striker will make his comeback in tonight’s reserve match with Middlesbrough at Billingham after a month out following a cartilage operation.

The 25-year-old has struggled to transfer the goal-scoring form he showed at Crystal Palace – 71 in four seasons – into the Premiership since his move to St Andrews in the summer of 2002.

But his confidence in his ability to perform at the top level remains unaffected – and Bruce would dearly love for Morrison to help improve on City’s woeful record of eight goals in 13 league games.

His current strike force of Emile Heskey and Dwight Yorke have managed just two goals each and spurned further opportunities in Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat by Everton.

Morrison also wants to try and convince Bruce that he should be a first choice striker before the Blues chief decides to bring in a new striker during the January transfer window.

He said: “I have had a bet with the gaffer that I will be top scorer at the end of the season. He has loads of money so he can give some of it to me!

“I want to be a regular for Blues and I have a point to prove to people that I can score at this level. If I want to cement a place in the team then I have to impress the manager before the transfer window reopens.

“That means I have got six or seven games to show what I can do. It will be difficult after coming

back from an injury but I will do my best.”