Daniel Farke has warned his Leeds United team to change shape with five changes vs Birmingham

United travel to Elland Road to face Wayne Rooney’s Championship strugglers in an attempt to cut the distance on Southampton and Ipswich Town.

Daniel Farke has been cautioned to use a different formation and make substitutions when Leeds United take on Birmingham City on Monday afternoon.

The German made five changes to the Whites lineup from the previous night, but it was in vain. Farke‘s new-look squad included Wilfried Gnonto and Ilia Gruev from the start, but following a 1-0 setback to West Bromwich Albion, he could be forgiven for wanting to go back to more tried and true faces.

Leeds’ third defeat in five games, with only one win, so rebounding back on New Year’s Day against Wayne Rooney‘s struggling Birmingham is critical – and fans have told Farke what he needs to do to secure three points.

Fans want to see United abandon the 4-2-3-1 configuration that the former Norwich City manager has used all season and instead add another central midfielder to the mix. At the Hawthorns, Gruev and Ethan Ampadu were the two trusted in that position, but with the Bulgarian falling to the bench, Archie Grey and Glen Kamara will come in to partner Ampadu in the centre.

That means Joel Piroe, who has only scored once in his last six appearances, is out of the starting lineup. Gnonto also loses his spot, and is replaced by the returning Daniel James.

The only other change comes in defence, where fans want Pascal Struijk to replace Liam Cooper, who was given his first start in eight games on Friday night.

Supporters’ XI: Darlow; Spence, Rodon, Struijk, Byram; Ampadu, Kamara, Gray; James, Summerville, Rutter.