Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce has given a vote of confidence to out-of-favour striker Clinton Morrison.
The Republic of Ireland international became Birmingham's record signing in the summer of 2002 when he moved from Crystal Palace in a £4.5 million sterling deal.
He has so far failed to live up to that price tag, however, taking time to adjust to life in the Midlands and the Premiership and then suffering a bad shoulder injury.
Morrison's only start this season was in the Carling Cup defeat at Blackpool in September and since then the form of on-loan Mikael Forssell has made it difficult for him to force his way into the side.
But Bruce has no doubts that Morrison will eventually deliver the goods at St Andrews.
He said: "Clinton has been unfortunate. He was probably playing his best football when he came to us from Crystal Palace.
"It took him, a young lad out of London, a little time to settle and then he dislocated his shoulder so badly that he couldn't even join in with pre-season with us.
"That left me with being a striker light and we couldn't go into the season with just three forwards. That's why we went and brought in Mikael Forssell. Maybe if Clinton had been fit, we might not have done that. Now Clinton is fit but he has found his way blocked a little bit.
"But he is only young and he'll come back and once he gets his chance again, I am sure he will take it. I've still got faith in him."
PA