CHRIS Hughton has insisted Blues could carry just three strikers in the coming weeks, should they not be able to re-sign Chris Wood.

But the manager said he preferred to have four recognised centre-forwards to choose from.

With Wood and his club Albion taking stock after a loan spell at St Andrew’s ended, it has left Hughton in a predicament.

Marlon King, Nikola Zigic and Adam Rooney are the current senior first-teamers for the front pairing.

Jake Jervis (Preston North End) and Akwasi Asante (Northampton Town) have just been farmed out on loan.

Should injuries cut down the remaining trio, then it would hardly help Blues’ cause.

Hughton has been scouring the country for a potential new recruit on loan in case of this kind of eventuality.

But he said ideally he wanted Wood back at St Andrew’s.

When it was suggested that surely he wouldn’t be able to wait for Wood forever and continue with three strikers, he replied: “We can, actually. It depends on the way you play.

“There would be teams in this division that only work with three strikers because they might be teams that sometimes play one off the front.

“We can do that as well, but the fact is I’ve generally tended to play two strikers in most games more often than not. Then, yes, I would like four strikers at the club but it’s certainly not the end of the world if it doesn’t happen.”

Hughton has used Wade Elliott off the front man this season on the odd occasion.