O'Connor determined to be Bruce's bonus

O'Connor is set to make his first appearance for the Blues against Coca-Cola Championship winners Sunderland at St Andrews on Wednesday night.

Following his £2.65million summer switch from Lokomotiv Moscow, the 24-year-old is keen to make an immediate impact.

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On a mission: O'Connor (left)is determined to fire Birmingham up the table

Birmingham's first home game back in the Premier League following just one season in the Championship would be an ideal occasion for him to make his mark with his new employers.

O'Connor said: "Coming to Birmingham is a tremendous challenge for me but I am confident that I can adjust to playing in the Premier League.

"I don't regret my spell in Russia. I feel I became a much better player for the experience as I had to adjust to all sorts of things.

"At the same time, I was working with top-class coaches and players and the standard was certainly higher than in Scotland.

"But the crowds were not very big and this is going to be the big difference, so far as I am concerned, when I play in front of some huge crowds.

"The other challenge at Birmingham is that they have several other good strikers at the club including Mikael Forssell, Cameron Jerome and Rowan Vine.

"It is this sort of competition which brings the best out of me. I know that once I get into the team my main task will be to retain the position and that means playing to the best of my ability.

"Our next five games are against Sunderland, West Ham, Derby, Middlesbrough and Bolton. It is from these type of games that we must pick up points to make a good start to the season.

"This is where Birmingham went wrong the last time they were in the Premier League. They made a disastrous start and never recovered.

"Promoted clubs generally struggle in their first Premier League season. Wigan and Reading have been exceptions and it is up to the likes of me to put Birmingham on a firm footing for the rest of the season."

A good run for his club can also formalise O'Connor's place as the top striker in the Scotland team.

He added: "We have some big games coming up, including France, and I want to be involved.

"If I can play well for Birmingham, hopefully it can cement my place in the Scotland team.

"With qualifying for the European Championships at stake, this is a massive season."

Manchester United old boys Bruce and Sunderland boss Roy Keane are fully aware of the implications of not getting off to a good start.

Last season, Birmingham took four points from Sunderland, including a win at the start of the campaign when the north-east club were in desperate trouble.