Neil Redfearn will once again be charged with caretaker duties for Leeds United when they travel to St Andrew's to take on Birmingham City in Saturday's early Championship kickoff.

The temporary manager guided Leeds to a 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers in his first match at the helm before the international break, and another three points this weekend could further strengthen his claim for the job on a permanent basis.

Two of the club's former players have also emerged as contenders at Elland Road, however, with Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink both thought to be keen on taking charge of the club.

They are just a couple of a whole host of names to have been linked to the vacant post as once again off-field matters dominate the headlines at the Yorkshire outfit.

Whoever comes in will not find things much easier than previous boss Dave Hockaday, who was forced to contend with a huge overhaul of players in addition to his own managerial inexperience at this level.

There was plenty more action on deadline day, most notably the decision to allow striker Matt Smith to link up with former teammate Ross McCormack at Fulham.

However, Brazilian Adryan has arrived on loan from Flamengo, and Redfearn has already praised the 20-year-old, who could feature at some point this weekend.

The visitors will be without Sam Byram for the match, however, as he continues to serve his suspension.

Birmingham, meanwhile, must pick themselves up following a heavy defeat to Wigan Athletic that sent them into the international break with just five points from as many games.

The Blues stayed up in the most dramatic fashion on the final day of last season, and so far the signs are that they may be embroiled in another relegation dogfight this time around.

One way to ensuring that won't be the case will be to improve their home form. Lee Clark's side picked up a meagre 14 points in 23 outings at St Andrew's last season, winning just twice.

However, they have already amassed half of that win total this time around, ending a 10-month winless streak at home with victory over Brighton & Hove Albion last month.

Indeed, they are unbeaten in their two league games in front of their own fans this season, while only Premier League side Sunderland have beaten them in all competitions.

However, they are also without a victory in their last four games home and away in all competitions, failing to score in their last two while conceding seven goals.

Birmingham reportedly missed out on a couple of big-name signings towards the end of the transfer window, but they have since brought in USA international Brek Shea on an emergency loan.

He could play some part this weekend, with Clark likely to make a few changes to the side that lost so heavily to Wigan last time out.

Recent form

Birmingham: WWDDLL

Leeds: WWLLLW

Possible starting lineups

Birmingham: Randolph; Spector, Edgar, Shea, Robinson; Caddis, Duffy, Davis, Cotterill; Donaldson, Thomas

Leeds: Silvestri; Wootton, Bellusci, Pearce, Warnock; Bianchi, Cook, Sloth, Mowatt; Sharp, Antenucci

Sports Mole says: 1-1

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