Birmingham boss Alex McLeish targets Europa League

McLeish has called on his strikers to keep the Blues on track

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has finally admitted he has his sights set on qualifying for the Europa League.

The Scot has consistently played down his team's chances of reaching Europe despite their fine form this season.

But on Friday he said: "Can we qualify for the Europa League? We know it's possible. Anything is possible.

"We have got ourselves in a marvellous position of strength and it's up to the players and ourselves to keep driving and going for it."

Birmingham, who are eighth in the Premier League, host ninth-placed Everton on Saturday in a match which is key to their European hopes.

They drew 1-1 at Goodison Park earlier this season in the league and also knocked Everton out of the FA Cup.

"Everton would still be favourites to catch us in this particular campaign and Fulham are also there and thereabouts," said McLeish.

"If we can beat Everton at home, it would help and we fancy ourselves at St Andrew's.

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"But Everton are a great club, they were brilliant last week [against Hull], and they will be coming with a lot of confidence.

"We've got to show the same type of spirit we've shown at St Andrew's since day one this season.

"We have to make sure Everton are going back up the motorway to Liverpool thinking 'That is the last place we wanted to go today'."

McLeish added that key to Birmingham's Europa League ambitions is the form of his forward line.

The reunited partnership of Cameron Jerome and Christian Benitez impressed during the 2-0 midweek win at Portsmouth.

"If Cameron continues to score goals and we keep winning, then it's possible," McLeish said.

"If Christian and the other strikers can keep getting us goals - the four front guys we trust to get into these positions and do well - then it's possible."