Birmingham City are in Sky Bet Championship action for the first time in 2024 as they take on Leeds United at Elland Road on New Year's Day. Wayne Rooney's side are desperate for a positive result after a disappointing run of four games without a win – including a lacklustre 0-0 draw with Bristol City on Friday.
It's going to be incredibly tough to get three points this time around, however, as Leeds see the fixture as a must-win following three defeats in their last five outings. Daniel Farke's men lost 1-0 to West Bromwich Albion on Friday evening and will be looking for an instant response against Blues.
Rooney is getting more and more under pressure the closer Birmingham move to the relegation zone, with just seven points now the gap to Queens Park Rangers in 22nd. Blues are 20th – a huge 14 spots below where they impressively stood when John Eustace was sacked on October 9.
Although the result wasn't overly positive, the returns of Cody Drameh, Keshi Anderson and Tyler Roberts against Bristol were welcomed by Bluenoses. Rooney now has more room to tinker with his XI and we reckon he will do just that. With that in mind, here's the lineup we think Blues will go with.
9. RW: Romelle Donovan
Donovan made his first-ever senior start on Friday but didn’t have much of a chance to show his talent going forward. Rooney will probably give him another go with Miyoshi out of form. Anderson and Roberts are still gaining fitness, too. | Getty Images
10. LW: Koji Miyoshi
Miyoshi comes back in for an opportunity with Dembele in hot and cold form of late. Rooney is yet to find his favoured combination in attack. | Getty Images
11. ST: Jay Stansfield
Stansfield could make his last Blues appearance on Monday as there’s a chance he gets recalled by Fulham to be sent out to a higher-level Championship club. | Getty Images