Birmingham City have had a solid start to the Sky Bet Championship season, which has seen them move, somewhat unnoticed, into the play-off positions.
Under the guidance of Gary Rowett, Birmingham have excelled in the past 18 months, and some would say they are punching above their weight given the depth and quality of their squad.
However, they won’t be getting too carried away with their start after they had a similar beginning to their last campaign, but they will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the ending.
The Blues capitulated after Christmas last season, but Birmingham fans would expect Rowett to have learned from it, so it won’t happen again this time around.
To avoid history repeating itself, Rowett must recruit smartly in January and add to the strength-in-depth in his squad, but he will need the backing of the owners.
Here, FootballLeagueWorld writer Chris Wilson identifies FOUR top-flight outcasts who Birmingham should be keeping tabs on ahead of the January window…
Marc Pugh
Marc Pugh’s opportunities at Bournemouth have been very limited since their promotion to the Premier League, largely due to the calibre of players that Eddie Howe has been able to bring in, given the finances the Cherries now have available.
Pugh would provide Birmingham with some added creativity out wide, which could be crucial for them as they look to solidify their play-off spot.
Someone out wide to supply crosses into the box for Clayton Donaldson and Lukas Jutkiewicz could be a great source for goals and vital for the Blues.
David Nugent
David Nugent has found himself in a similar situation to Jordan Rhodes at Middlesbrough - out of favour and struggling for game time.
It also appears that he has been told that he may be sold on in January in what looks like a clear-out of the Middlesbrough squad.
Nugent would be a great signing for Birmingham as he could score them the goals they need to see them over the line.
He is one of the Championship's most clinical finishers, so if he could get a regular run of games he could score plenty of goals.
Lee Chung-Yong
Lee Chung-Yong moved to Selhurst Park in 2015, but the move has not really worked out as he would’ve hoped.
He has made just 26 appearances and scored a solitary goal, which was a pile driver at Stoke last season.
Lee would provide the Blues with an attacking threat from out wide that they do have in Jacques Maghoma and David Cotterill but, if one of them gets injured, they are somewhat light in that area.
Lee would provide chances for Donaldson and the incoming Jutkiewicz.
Tiago Ilori
Tiago Ilori hasn’t featured much at Anfield since his arrival in 2013, and he has found himself spending lots of time out on loan.
This season could see him back out on loan again, and possibly at St Andrew's.
Birmingham could do with some more quality at the back and Ilori would certainly provide that.
He is defensively solid, whilst also being able to play on the ball too. Even if he features predominantly on the bench, he could be good to bring on if the Blues need to see a game out.
Birmingham fans... do you agree? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!