Stuart Dallas out: Sky Sports pundit predicts two changes in Leeds United XI v Manchester United
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...
Paul Robinson predicts Marcelo Bielsa to make two changes to his starting line-up as Leeds United get ready to welcome Manchester United to Elland Road on Sunday.
Stuart Dallas went off injured at Everton last week so Robinson expects him to miss out but there’s fortunate news in that Junior Firpo should be available to replace him at left-back.
Robinson also believes Adam Forshaw will start a Premier League game for the first time since going off injured against West Ham on 16 January. He’s been tipped to come in for Mateusz Klich, who could be axed.
Other than that, the ex-goalkeeper feels it will be a familiar line-up to take on Man United to kickstart what are three very difficult fixtures that also see Leeds play Liverpool and Tottenham in the coming week.
Speaking to MOT Leeds News, Robinson said: “Firpo has to come back in because Dallas is injured and Forshaw comes in for either Klich or [Robin] Koch.
“I suspect with it being Man United and the way that they play, Bielsa might play two holding midfielders so if he does that, it’ll be Koch and Forshaw.
“[Jack] Harrison, Rodrigo and Raphinha will probably be the three attacking midfielders in behind Dan James if Raphinha is fully fit.
“It’s a really big task on the strength of the squad and the player Bielsa’s got available but if you look at the next three games that they’ve got on paper, it’s a really tough set of fixtures.
“When you take into account that Man United are so inconsistent, you never know what you’re going to get and at home, Leeds have got a better chance of winning. I don’t see it as a game they can’t win.
“I can see the Man United and Tottenham games as opportunities for them to pick up points.
“Their next three fixtures really aren’t pretty on paper but in reality, if they come out of them with four points, that would be a good return.”
Leeds are currently six points clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone but have lost twice and drawn one of their last three.
They now stare into the face of an incredibly tough run of fixtures with Dallas potentially joining Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper and Patrick Bamford on the sidelines.
In other Leeds United news, a player has snubbed talks to sign a new contract at Leeds.