Birmingham City head into the new Premier League campaign in good heart following last season’s ninth-place finish and Stephen Carr, who has just penned a new deal, says there is a buzz around St Andrew’s ahead of the opening-day trip to Sunderland (Birmingham 11/5, Sunderland 23/20).

Carr, 33, was out of contract at the end of the coming season but his fine form at full-back last term has persuaded Blues boss Alex McLeish to offer him a one-year extension.

The former Spurs man admits last season exceeded expectations at the club, with City flirting with a European place at one point before they suffered a slightly disappointing end to the campaign.

Speaking to the club’s website, he said: “It’s important to keep our standards high, to keep playing with quality and to look to kick on.

McLeish has added to his squad ahead of the new season with giant striker Nikola Zigic and goalkeeper Ben Foster arriving so far but the Scot is keen to bolster his options further and has been linked with a whole host of players in recent weeks.

AZ Alkmaar striker Moussa Dembele had been in talks over a move but McLeish appears to now have given up on him while they have also pulled the plug on a deal to sign experienced Italian midfielder Mauro Cameronesi.

With all the turmoil going on at managerless Aston Villa at the moment, some Birmingham fans believe this could be the season they usurp their bitter local rivals and finish above them in the table but Carr is trying to keep expectations in check by insisting the first target must be for Blues to stay up (Blues 11/2 to be top midlands club, Villa 1/4)

“It’s important for everyone to remember that although we are ambitious and want to aim high the most important thing is still to stay in the league,” he added.

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