Pearce believes that despite their recent struggle he has assembled a quality group of individuals at Eastlands who can climb the table with the help of reinforcements.

But Pearce, who this week celebrated his second anniversary in charge at City, has admitted he still has a lot to learn as he seeks to steer his side away from the relegation zone.

Pearce revealed: "The bottom line is that I feel as though I should have done better in respect to our league finish over the last two years but I also think that the club needs a touch of investment to push it forward again.

"Everybody is trying to make that happen and if it does we have the nucleus of a hell of a good squad here. My words are the same as two years ago - we need three or four top-class players to come back in and give the supporters and the club a big push."

Pearce was supposedly being set up for the sack before last Saturday's game at Middlesbrough where a 2-0 victory significantly eased City's relegation fears and possibly saved his job.

Pearce himself believes he has made significant progress since taking over as boss. He added: "Every season that has gone by you learn valuable lsesaons and I am a stronger and more balanced manager than I was two years ago.

"If I hadn't picked things up and learned from my experience I would be an absolute mug. I still feel we should be in the top half of the table and my coaching staff, the players and the supporters think that too."