Jay Stansfield has long been regarded as a penalty-box striker, the sort of forward whose value is measured in goals from close range and clinical finishes. This season at Birmingham City, however, he has taken on an entirely different function, and according to BBC Sport's Sam Fletcher, the effect has been quietly transformative.

Writing in his Final Score analysis of Birmingham's commanding 3-0 home victory over QPR at St Andrew's, Fletcher describes Stansfield as "the creative director of the team, with so much coming through him in the middle." It is a striking assessment of a player who, on paper, has only one goal and one assist to his name so far this campaign.

Numbers that do not tell the full story

Stansfield's raw return looks modest by the standards supporters have come to expect from a forward of his profile. Yet Fletcher's view is that the statistics flatly misrepresent his contribution. The 21-year-old is consistently involved in the build-up to chances, often providing what might be termed the "assist before the assist" — the touch, the turn or the clever lay-off that releases the player who then creates the decisive moment.

Operating as a number ten rather than as an out-and-out centre-forward, Stansfield is linking play between Birmingham's midfield and attack, offering movement and technical quality in pockets of space that a traditional striker would rarely occupy. Fletcher notes that the whole team looked "stylish and confident" against a QPR side he considers decent opposition, and that the smoothness of their combination play owed a great deal to Stansfield's positioning and decision-making in central areas.

A role that demands more than goals

The shift in brief is worth examining. A number ten is asked to read the game differently from a striker: to drop into deeper positions, to receive under pressure, to play forward quickly and to take responsibility for tempo. Those are demands that sit some distance from the instincts Stansfield will have developed as a goalscorer coming through the youth ranks and into senior football.

That he appears to be adapting with some comfort is, in itself, a talking point for Birmingham supporters. The 3-0 result against QPR extended what has been an encouraging run for the club in the Championship this season, and the performance drew praise across the pitch rather than for any single individual. That collective quality, Fletcher suggests, is partly a function of having Stansfield as a reliable focal point in the middle third.

What it means for Birmingham's season

Birmingham sit fourth in the Championship table, and the manner of the QPR victory — a comfortable, controlled three-goal margin against opponents who are no pushover — will have done plenty to sharpen the optimism around St Andrew's. The question now is whether Stansfield can sustain this level of influence across the full length of a Championship campaign, particularly as opponents begin to study and plan specifically for the role he is occupying.

There will also be those who wonder whether the goals will eventually come from the position. A number ten who contributes creativity but rarely scores is a valuable asset; one who adds goals to that creative output becomes genuinely difficult to play against. If Stansfield can add end product to his new responsibilities, the second half of the season could look very interesting indeed for Chris Davies's side.

For now, the early evidence from St Andrew's suggests something has, as Fletcher puts it, "really clicked" for Birmingham City. Stansfield's reinvention is a significant part of that story.

Frequently asked

What position is Jay Stansfield playing for Birmingham City this season?
Stansfield has moved into a number ten role this season, operating as a creative midfielder behind the attack rather than as an out-and-out striker.
How many goals and assists does Jay Stansfield have this season?
According to BBC Sport, Stansfield has one goal and one assist so far this campaign, though analysts argue those figures understate his overall contribution to Birmingham's play.
How did Birmingham City get on against QPR?
Birmingham won 3-0 at St Andrew's, with the performance drawing widespread praise for the team's stylish and confident combination play throughout the match.