In the continued absence of star striker Lee Miller Carlisle have today moved to strengthen their forward line with the addition of the 6'3 targetman from the Championship. Jervis coming through the youth ranks at Birmingham, following an early schoolboy spell at Wolves and then at Shrewsbury between the ages of 12 and 15, and signing a two and a half year professional deal at St Andrew's in March 2010 at the age of 18, two months after making his City first team debut as a late substitute in a 2-1 FA Cup victory at Everton.
A loan spell at then League Two side Hereford United followed at the end of the season where he made five starts, two substitute appearances and scored two goals before at the beginning of the 2010-11 campaign he was out on loan again, this time in League One with Notts County for a six month spell. The Wolverhampton-born striker finding it hard to get game time at Meadow Lane though and he returned to Birmingham having made three starts, eleven substitute appearances and scored no goals for the Magpies.
It was then back to Edgar Street and Hereford on a one-month loan deal in January 2011 where he made four starts, one substitute appearance and scored no goals. Last season meanwhile the 20-year old made an 89th minute appearance for Birmingham in a late August Europa League play-off seond leg match at home to Portuguese side Nacional before it was back on the loan trail in September as he linked up with then League Two outfit Swindon Town for a month.
That loan spell being extended to the end of December by Paolo Di Canio though with Jervis going on to make twelve starts, two substitute appearances and score five goals for the Robins. Jake wasn't back in Birmingham for long though at the end of his temporary spell in Wiltshire as at the start of January this year he was out on loan once more, this time with Preston in League One for a month where he made three starts, two substitute appearances and scored two goals.
His last competitive performance coming back in mid-February when he was a late substitute in a 1-1 FA Cup Fifth Round draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The final real action of note for Jervis coming off the pitch though at St Andrew's when he signed a new one year contract with City in mid-June. Now it's to Brunton Park for a month for the 20-year old though, with Jervis having not appeared in any first team pre-season friendlies or matches for Birmingham this year.
His match fitness should be well up to speed however following a 75 minute appearance in a 3-3 draw for the City Development Squad at Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday. He will get a rest for United next Tuesday evening against Ipswich though as Birmingham haven't given him permission to feature in the Capital One Cup, although he will be avaliable for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie at home to Preston the following Tuesday.
First Team Transfers 2012-13 : Click here