Stansfield enjoying altered role at high-flying Blues

Stansfield is thriving in a new supporting role alongside targetman Priske, with Birmingham third in the Championship after five wins in six games.

Jay Stansfield, Birmingham City's £15m record signing from Fulham, is enjoying a tactical shift that has him playing as a second striker behind targetman August Priske rather than the focal point of attack. The 24-year-old has scored 41 goals in 89 appearances for the club across three seasons and is one goal away from reaching 50 for Birmingham in the past 40 years.

Stansfield told BBC Radio WM he prefers the new role, which allows him to drift off the shoulder and receive passes in behind rather than playing deep. "I used to love in my academy days getting on the ball and making things happen. I like to peel off the shoulder and get balls played in behind, and last season I wasn't doing much of that," he said. "Being the second striker and feeding off August, I've had some really good chances."

Birmingham have won five of their last six Championship matches since the international break, with goals coming from multiple sources including full-back Alex Cochrane and midfielder Max Bird. The Blues sit third in the table ahead of Saturday's home fixture against Swansea City, level on points with fifth-placed Swansea.