Thomas Christiansen will have spent the international break frantically searching for the answer to Leeds United’s ongoing problem in the Sky Bet Championship, with the Elland Road boss in desperate need of an upturn in results.

Leeds have suffered seven defeats in their last nine Championship fixtures, which has seen Christiansen’s side slide to 10th in the table heading into the weekend’s fixtures, with real pressure on the Whites to pick up a positive result against Middlesbrough this weekend.

Leeds’ slump in form has seen Christiansen on occasion move away from his trusted 4-2-3-1 formation, switching to a 4-3-3, with Kalvin Phillips, Eunan O’Kane and Ronaldo Vieira central and Ezgjan Alioski and Samuel Saiz out wide.

Here at FLW, we believe that Christiansen’s experiment with Saiz on the wing needs to stop, with it absolutely vital the Spanish playmaker is in the number 10 role for this Sunday’s visit of Middlesbrough.

Saiz has been Leeds’ standout player this season, and even in a difficult run of fixtures, he has been exceptional and arguably the only member of Christiansen’s squad rightfully receiving any praise.

The 26-year-old has eight goals across all competitions and a further three assists, highlighting the impressive role he has played since his £3m arrival over the summer.

Saiz is wasted wide on the left and must play centrally, with Christiansen reverting to what was working during the opening weeks of the season. In a central role, Saiz flourishes, as he is able to go left and right, whilst also get beyond the striker and become a goalscoring threat, not just a creative threat.

Christiansen needs a result on Sunday against Boro, which will take an exceptional performance. Moving Saiz back into his favoured position will give Leeds their best chance of hurting Garry Monk’s impressive Boro side.

Leeds fans… Let us know your thoughts!