Mateusz Klich axed – Sky Sports pundit predicts Leeds United XI v Manchester City
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United...
Jesse Marsch could make one change to his starting line-up ahead of Leeds United versus Manchester City at Elland Road on Saturday, according to Paul Robinson.
While the former goalkeeper admits that Marsch doesn’t have many options at his disposal due to injuries to key players such as Adam Forshaw and Patrick Bamford, he does feel as though Mateusz Klich could be axed and replaced by Robin Koch in the midfield.
Klich, 31, was hooked at half-time on Monday as Leeds drew away at Crystal Palace while Koch, naturally a centre-half, could be drafted in to add some more defensive steel to the midfield.
“With Patrick Bamford out again, it’s clear that Dan James plays up front and Rodrigo plays in the middle,” Robinson told MOT Leeds News.
“Marsch is very limited with what personnel he’s got at the moment so he can’t make a lot of chances.
“But one you could possibly see is Robin Koch coming in for Klich because of the change Marsch made at half-time [at Palace].
“But, other than that, he hasn’t got the personnel at his disposal to make that many changes.”
Since Marsch arrived at Elland Road, Klich has started all but one of Leeds’ Premier League games.
However, the Poland international has been substituted off in five of his six starts for the American boss.
Klich wasn’t taken off due to an injury at Selhurst Park on Monday so he should be fit but it does seem as though dropping him and bringing in Koch makes sense when Man City are in such fine goalscoring form right now.
In other Leeds United news, Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips have sent messages to one of their exit-linked teammates.