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MOT View: Leeds handed three major boosts ahead of crunch clash v Fulham
Saturday’s game against Fulham is huge and possibly the strangest thing about it is that it hasn’t been picked for TV.
We’re not complaining – a game like this playing out at 3pm on Saturday is wonderful, it’s just unusual.
It’s huge for both sides. Fulham desperately need a win to try and haul in the top two.
A run of three defeats has seen them drop to sixth, 12 points behind Leeds in second. That’s already a big gap to close at this point in the season.
For Leeds, a win would take them 15 points clear of Fulham, seen by the bookies as their main threat to automatic promotion.
The portents are good.
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We spoke to Leeds physio Rob Price at Leyland last night, where we were following the Under-23s. He said that Liam Cooper is back in training and will play against Fulham unless he suffers a setback this week.
That’s a huge boost for Leeds, who are much better at the back with Cooper and Ben White in the centre.
But there were two other boosts at Leyland, too.
Eddie Nketiah finally looked back to top form after some shaky displays following his injury. He scored twice – amazingly, his first goals since returning from injury. And he looked sharp and ready to go for the first team.
But it was Jack Clarke who stole the show.
Clarke looked back to his menacing best against Bolton. It made us remember last season when we looked to Clarke to provide the creativity down the wing.
It was the best he’s played since his virus last season.
Leeds have moved on since then but having Clarke on the bench in that sort of form gives Bielsa another big option if needed on Saturday.
It means that Leeds couldn’t be approaching the game in better shape.
In other Leeds United news, fans were thrilled with this Under-23s ace on Monday night.