Team news

Rogers may wait for Whites bow Leeds striker Robbie Rogers may have to wait a little longer for his first appearance when Birmingham visit Elland Road.

The USA international, signed earlier this month from Columbus Crew, is available following the completion of paperwork, but has only recently returned from America and has trained for two days. The 24-year-old could be named on the substitutes' bench.

Manager Simon Grayson is expected to hand midfielder Fabian Delph his second start since returning to the club on loan from Aston Villa, while another loanee, Tottenham's Andros Townsend, is hoping to retain his place in the side.

Striker Luciano Becchio could return to the starting line-up after stepping off the bench to score in the home win over Ipswich in Leeds' last match.

Centre-half Paddy Kisnorbo remains sidelined with a season-ending knee injury, but Grayson has no new injury or suspension problems.

Birmingham could recall captain Stephen Carr and joint top-scorer Marlon King.

Full-back Carr (knee) has not featured since mid-December but has returned to training.

King, who has nine npower Championship goals this season, came off in the Blues' last league game with a groin complaint and did not travel to the FA Cup clash with Sheffield United.

Striker Adam Rooney shone in King's absence with two goals in the 4-0 victory and may start up front again.

Defender Liam Ridgewell, who has been linked to a host of clubs with the impending closure of the transfer window, was not in manager Chris Hughton's squad that day despite fully recovering from a hamstring problem.

Leeds vs Birmingham

Last modified 22:12 31/01/12

Zigic hits four as Blues cruise Nikola Zigic scored all four goals as Birmingham cranked up the pressure on their npower Championship promotion rivals with a thumping 4-1 victory at Leeds - their sixth straight win.

The beanpole Serbian striker cancelled out Leeds striker Ross McCormack's 19th-minute opener with a first-half header and struck three times in seven minutes in the second period as Chris Hughton's rampant Blues ran riot.

Leeds fans, who saw their side beaten 5-1 at Elland Road by Blackpool in November, turned on chairman Ken Bates soon after Zigic headed home his fourth in the 68th minute.

He was forced off after landing awkwardly, but the damage was done as Birmingham extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches.

Luciano Becchio and defender Aidan White returned for Leeds, but there was no place in the squad for deadline day loan signing Adam Smith, from Tottenham, while another recent recruit, USA international Robbie Rogers, was not included.

Birmingham, beaten only once since exiting the Europa League in December, made three changes, with goalkeeper Boaz Myhill, midfielder Keith Fahey and Zigic recalled.

Leeds twice threatened to take the lead in only the second minute when Becchio's goalbound header and then McCormack's shot were both blocked on the goalline.

Becchio then wasted another golden chance to give Leeds a flying start, sidefooting wide with just keeper Boaz Myhill to beat after being played through by McCormack.

But McCormack gave the Elland Road crowd a huge lift in the 19th minute when skipping too easily past Blues defender Curtis Davies and arrowing a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Leeds' hard work was undone by a soft equaliser in the 31st minute.

Wade Elliott was afforded too much space to cross from the left and Zigic slipped his marker to steer home an easy header.

Becchio was denied a spectacular goal from 30 yards only by Myhill's acrobatics in the 57th minute.

But just as Leeds began to force the issue Zigic blasted Birmingham into a 61st-minute lead.

Chris Burke raced on to a crossfield pass and turned left-back White inside out before cutting the ball back for Zigic to fire high into the net.

Three minutes later the Serb headed home his hat-trick. Morgaro Gomis crossed from the left after another swift passing move and Zigic was free to regally head home the visitors' third goal.

Elliott forced Andy Lonergan into a fine save with a header as the Blues smelt blood and from the resulting corner Zigic rose highest to power home his fourth and all but seal another win for Hughton's rampant side.

Zigic fell awkwardly and left the field to tumultuous applause from the travelling Blues fans.