Birmingham City Predicted to Start Priske, Vicente, and Gray Against Leeds United in FA Cup Clash
Birmingham City are preparing to host Leeds United in the fourth round of the FA Cup this Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 12pm. The match presents a significant opportunity for manager Chris Davies to rotate his squad, with five changes anticipated in the starting lineup.
August Priske Poised for First Start in Blues Attack
Striker August Priske, who joined Birmingham City in a £6 million transfer from Djurgården in January, is expected to make his first start for the club. To date, Priske has made four substitute appearances in the Championship, with Marvin Ducksch and Jay Stansfield typically preferred as the starting forwards.
Ducksch has played over 80 minutes in each of Blues' last seven matches, suggesting this cup tie could be an ideal moment to rest the German international. This would allow Priske to showcase his abilities alongside Stansfield, forming a strike partnership that could lead the team into the future, especially as both players are contracted beyond 2030.
Carlos Vicente and Demarai Gray Set for Wing Roles
In addition to Priske, other attackers are likely to feature prominently. Carlos Vicente is predicted to reclaim the right-wing position from Patrick Roberts, while Demarai Gray is eager to start on the left flank after recovering from a six-week injury absence. Gray's return comes as Ibrahim Osman has impressed in his place, giving Davies a wealth of options in wide areas.
The manager faces a pleasant dilemma with four quality wingers at his disposal, ensuring strong performances whether they start or come off the bench.
Midfield Adjustments and Defensive Consistency
The midfield will see changes due to an injury to Paik Seung-ho, who re-injured his shoulder in Tuesday's draw with West Bromwich Albion. Tommy Doyle is the natural replacement, and he will need to partner effectively with Jhon Solis. Both players must find better balance, as they tended to occupy similar areas in the previous match, with one needing to step up in Paik's absence to facilitate transitions from defence to attack.
Defensively, Birmingham City are benefiting from a clearer treatment room, but the backline is expected to remain stable. The predicted quartet includes Tomoki Iwata, Phil Neumann, Christoph Klarer, and Kai Wagner. Iwata was rested in midweek, while Wagner is likely to continue on the left flank. There is a slight question over whether Jonathan Panzo might debut in place of Neumann, but Neumann is favoured to retain his spot.
Predicted Starting Lineup and Formation
Birmingham City are likely to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation for this crucial FA Cup encounter. The predicted lineup is as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Beadle
- Defenders: Iwata, Neumann, Klarer, Wagner
- Midfielders: Solis, Doyle
- Attacking Midfielders: Vicente, Stansfield, Gray
- Striker: Priske
This setup aims to blend experience with emerging talent, offering a glimpse into the club's future while competing for a place in the next round of the FA Cup. Fans are encouraged to share their thoughts on this predicted lineup in the comments section.
