Birmingham City should consider moving Jordan James and should make at least two changes.

Jordan James has been Birmingham City’s top scorer since early October, yet there remains uncertainty surrounding his role within Tony Mowbray’s setup and now under interim boss Mark Venus.

The 19-year-old Welsh international has impressed with eight goals in the Championship this season, all coming in Blues’ last 23 league games, despite only starting 16 of them.

In the seven Championship matches under Mowbray’s leadership, James has been deployed in various positions: once in a deep midfield role, once as a number 10, three times on the left wing, and has been on the bench twice. While James has found the net in his last two games as part of Birmingham’s attacking quartet, there’s a sense that his potential could be maximized in a different role.

Recall his standout performance in central midfield against Leicester in the FA Cup, where he controlled the game in the first half. It’s evident that his strengths lie in the middle of the park, whether as a defensive midfielder, box-to-box midfielder, or even as a number 10.

The issue is that James can’t play number eight in the Blues’ 4-2-3-1 system. There isn’t much evidence to support moving Andre Dozzell or Paik Seung-ho to make room for James in the double pivot; it’s either six or ten.

Because Mowbray wanted a workmanlike starting lineup against Blackburn Rovers, he was first shifted to the wide left position. James has stayed there because of his goals, his physicality, his readiness to defend the full-back, and Mowbray’s desire to have him stay on the team.

However, there’s a compelling case to bring him inside against Southampton in place of Tyler Roberts, who has been playing at number ten. At St Andrew’s, the Saints will likely have the majority of the ball, and James’ versatility in dropping into midfield and his ability to carry the ball through the thirds might be very helpful.

James’s infield move allows the Blues to present one of their musicians on the left side. Right now, Juninho Bacuna most likely holds the advantage over Siriki Dembele.

Left back is another position where the Blues might make a switch. Although Lee Buchanan is the team’s most reliable full-back with a defensive mindset, Cody Drameh and Ethan Laird’s offensive prowess has been more valued recently.

Drameh has expressed dissatisfaction with his performances since coming back from injury, and he was substituted late in Birmingham’s recent loss to Ipswich. Laird might opt to move Drameh back to his natural right-back position to accommodate Buchanan’s return.

Another selection quandary arises at center-back if Krystian Bielik is fit to return from a groin injury. Dion Sanderson, the captain, made his first start in a month against Ipswich in place of Bielik. Before the Ipswich match, Bielik had started seven consecutive games at center-back for Birmingham and could be chosen to partner Marc Roberts. Confirmation regarding Bielik’s availability is expected at Venus’s press conference on Thursday.