After enduring a difficult spell during the early months of 2007, a three-game unbeaten run has eased the Blues' relegation fears.

Victory at Fulham tomorrow will see them hit the magical 40-point barrier which should guarantee safety with six games to spare.

Just getting to that position is remarkable given City have scored only 23 times this season, a figure only basement boys Watford have not exceeded.

On home soil, it is New Year's Day since Pearce's boys last found the net in league combat and the City boss has already made bringing in at least one new striker his top priority this summer.

However, the man who will lead England Under-21s into this summer's European Championships knows there are other areas that need strengthening too.

And, after operating on a restricted budget during his two years in charge since replacing Kevin Keegan as boss, Pearce feels it is now time for City to show their ambitions.

"Over the last two years, we have tightened our belts and steadied the ship financially," he said.

"Now, in the summer, we will probably need to speculate a little bit more and say right, we are going to improve the squad.

"We have gone into this season and our outgoings were £500,000. There are a lot of teams below us in this league who have spent £20million. That tells you a story in itself.

"There is a lot of ability in the squad at the moment. We probably need to add two or three players in key positions to really drive us forward."

The obvious problem for Pearce is that his immediate priority is to tie down some of the players he already has at his disposal on long-term deals.

Given the positive impact they have made in their short time at Eastlands, Pearce would no doubt like Belgian striker Emile Mpenza and former England defender Michael Ball to extend their stays.

Then there is England duo Joey Barton and Micah Richards, who could return from a calf problem at Craven Cottage, who have regularly been linked with moves away from City, and also former captain Sylvain Distin, whose contract expires in the summer.

Ironically, Distin has been heavily linked with a move to Fulham, although City have denied any deal has been done.

Pearce is still hopeful of keeping the talented Frenchman and rejects outright the theory Distin will be a less effective performer over the remainder of the campaign due to his uncertain future.

"When people suggest to me Sylvain will take his eye off the ball because of contractual issues, they don't know him," said Pearce.

"Together with Richard Dunne, he is a colossus in our team.

"They are the ones who give us a platform. They play every game. They enjoy playing with each other and they have a great deal of respect throughout this football club."

Pearce has stopped short of declaring City will be safe if they beat Fulham, who are one place and two points below them in the table.

However, he accepts the job will almost be done, offering him the chance to set another target for his team over the remaining weeks of the campaign.

"If we win at Fulham I don't think West Ham or Watford will catch us, so we could write two teams off," he said.

"But if we win at Fulham, I will be looking at how close we can get to 50 points let alone 40.

"The results over the last few weeks have been done to sheer hard work and we want to drive ourselves further up the league.

"We have not got a split dressing room like some outside this football club were telling me. We have a group of people who are desperate to play and want to be involved."