Cameron Jerome is getting better with age, insists Alex Neil.

The 29-year-old notched his second Premier League goal of the season in fortuitous circumstances at Joe Hart's expense last weekend to cap an all-action display at the Etihad.

Dynamo Kiev loan signing Dieumerci Mbokani is back in contention today after a recent bout of illness and Kyle Lafferty remains in the wings, but Jerome is the man in possession.

'I don't think Cameron lacks confidence. That hasn't been the case, but strikers measure themselves in goals so it was nice for him to score,' said Neil. 'He has been working very hard for the team and I thought he put in some shift against Manchester City and managed to get his goal. I would go as far to say I think his game has improved in the time I have been here, in terms of his hold up play and his work for the team. Dieumerci is over the bug but the only thing I would say is he has probably done one day's training. Although he is fully recovered, he has not done as much as we would have hoped.'

Neil appears to favour the athleticism of Jerome, Mbokani and Lewis Grabban to Northern Irish international Lafferty's more direct threat. The striker's national boss, Michael O'Neill, again reiterated earlier this week his main man needs to be playing regularly ahead of Euro 2016.

'Kyle has been training well and applying himself as well as he can,' said Neil. 'I have no issues with Kyle whatsoever.

'I just feel up to this point I have had other guys who offer me different things than Kyle and that they have been required more than Kyle's strengths have been.'