Birmingham boss confident Benitez will be a hit

McLeish believes the hitman will soon break his duck at St Andrews.

McLeish said: “I can’t say it is just a matter of time before the goals come. It would be foolish to say that but I do believe there are goals within these players.

“At the start of the season the pundits said they didn’t see where the goals were going to come from at Birmingham but I do know that we have made a lot of chances.

“If we weren’t making chances, I would be extremely worried so that gives me a crumb of comfort.

“We have just got to keep working, and be calmer. But Cameron knows he will be judged on goals, Christian knows he will be judged on goals but these lads are doing well and have made us better and we are playing to a very good standard.

“They have to keep working on the training ground every day, believing they will eventually get the goals.”

McLeish added: “Is Benitez becoming frustrated? I am hoping it is going to be like waiting for a bus. Once one comes, we get a barrel-load of goals and that tends to happen when you are waiting for a bus.

“I think Benitez has brought something extra to the team. There is no doubt that he upsets defences and I am delighted with his performances.

“To take the pressure off himself, he needs a goal. He will be craving that goal but he doesn’t need to worry about his performances. I am very pleased with him.”