Birmingham City returned to winning ways against Swansea City and Jay Stansfield played a key role in his new position
15:58, 23 Sep 2025Updated 16:21, 23 Sep 2025
Birmingham City reporter for BirminghamLive and the Birmingham Mail
Jay Stansfield of Birmingham City
The number 10 position has been problematic for Birmingham City and Chris Davies so far this season.
The fact Davies spent deadline day looking at players for that position, even though he has multiple options already in the building, tells you everything you need to know.
Davies has chopped and changed in the 10 but Blues are at their most fluid, functioning best when Jay Stansfield plays there.
That could create another problem down the line if the striking mantle isn’t filled by Kyogo Furuhashi or Marvin Ducksch, given Stansfield’s performances up front over the past two years, but that is one for another day.
Stansfield gives you plenty of the qualities you want from a number 10: intelligence, awareness, ball-carrying and goal-scoring abilities.
It is the position Stansfield wanted to play when he first joined Blues on loan two years ago.
He played the position behind Kyogo in the first few Championship games and slotted back in behind Ducksch against Swansea.
Commenting on Ducksch’s full debut up front, Davies told BBC Radio WM: “What he gave us was something we’ve missed at times, someone to play into, someone who can link, a physical presence, and you need that in this league because the games are tight.
“I thought he showed his cleverness, he lasted the game well, and worked hard with Jay as a front two.
“I think he can play as a nine. He did play a lot in a 3-5-2 at Bremen, where he played before, but he can play as a nine or a 10 and I thought they linked up pretty well.”
Don’t discount super-sub Lyndon Dykes – who averages a Championship goal every 13 minutes this season – but it now does appear to be three into two positions. Basically, it’s Stansfield plus one, be that Ducksch or Kyogo.
Do you prefer Ducksch or Kyogo alongside Stansfield? Have your say HEREGet the latest Blues headlines sent straight to your phone
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