Chris Davies makes £1.5m attacking call as Dion Sanderson dilemma assessed - Birmingham City predicted XI vs Leyton Orient

Birmingham are in English third-tier action for the third time this season as they take on Orient at Gaughan Group Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Blues, seventh in the league standings after a 1-1 draw with Reading on the opening weekend and a 3-2 win at Wycombe Wanderers the following Saturday, have the chance to move closer to the summit with three points.

Great confidence will have been taken from the last outing as Alfie May, Luke Harris and Willum Willumsson all got on the scoresheet to round off a dominant display. Conceding two from two shots on target was disappointing but not a clear reflection of the game.

This weekend’s opposition are 20th in League One following 2-1 and 1-0 defeats to Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic respectively. It’s been a tough start to the season for the Greater London-based club and Birmingham will be eager to pile on the misery.

Davies has a few selection dilemmas to consider, including whether to bring Dion Sanderson back into the starting lineup following his return from suspension. The attacking midfield positions behind Alfie May are very much up in the air, too, with so many options available.

Birmingham City predicted lineup vs Leyton Orient (A)

With all of the above in mind, here’s the starting XI that Birmingham World reporter Charlie Haffenden predicts will be named at Gaughan Group Stadium.

GK - Bailey Peacock-Farrell

It’s a close call between the goalkeepers but we think Peacock-Farrell just about keeps Ryan Allsop out of the XI for now, at least in the league.

RB - Ethan Laird

Laird has some top competition in Alfons Sampsted but should be safe in the XI for now, while the Iceland international settles.

CB - Christoph Klarer

The Austrian had a couple of shaky moments against Wycombe but had a decent game on the whole. Dion Sanderson will have to work hard to make it back into the XI after his suspension.

CB - Krystian Bielik

The new skipper, a superb ball-playing centre-back in the new system, is one of the very first names on the team sheet.

LB - Alex Cochrane

Cochrane, who has played well since signing from Hearts, will continue to start in the league while Lee Buchanan recovers from a calf issue.

CM - Marc Leonard

Leonard has been superb since his arrival from Brighton, taking to Davies’ system so quickly. The midfielder will be difficult to displace at any point this season.

CM - Paik Seung-ho

The South Korean has been the preferred option alongside Leonard so far but will be looking over his shoulder at Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Tyler Roberts.

RW - Keshi Anderson

Anderson has redeemed himself so far this campaign after a difficult 2023/24. Koji Miyoshi, meanwhile, tends to be used off the bench away from home.

LW - Emil Hansson

The Swede, who cost £1.5 million to sign, has been inconsistent so far but absolutely electric when at his best. We expect Davies to play Hansson over Ayumu Yokoyama.

CAM - Willum Willumsson

The Iceland international should nudge into the XI ahead of Luke Harris after an impressive start to his Blues career, but it’s probably a 50-50 call.

ST - Alfie May

May, along with Bielik and Leonard, is a dead-set in the XI every week. The striker has two goals in two league games so far.