Early Leeds United team news v Crystal Palace: Robin Koch could be axed by Jesse Marsch
Jesse Marsch could axe Robin Koch from his starting line-up ahead of Leeds United versus Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday, according to Beren Cross.
Writing on a Q&A, the LeedsLive journalist reports that Kalvin Phillips is a “serious candidate” to start for the Whites in South London after completing his comeback from injury.
Cross suggests that if Phillips, 26, is able to return then 25-year-old Germany international Koch could be dropped by Marsch in order to make room for the England midfielder.
Unfortunate
Leeds have been in a good vein of form so some may argue that Marsch shouldn’t tinker with a winning team.
Last time out, the Whites won 3-0 over Watford and Koch played really well in the midfield alongside Mateusz Klich.
While he’s naturally a centre-back, the German has done a half-decent job when playing further forward in a deep-lying midfield role. Noel Whelan told Football Insider on 12 April that Koch’s done a “fantastic” job in the middle of the park.
However, while you may argue that changing a winning team is a bad idea, it’s also a bad idea to keep one of your best players on the bench too.
Phillips simply must be fit now.
The Yorkshire Pirlo has been out for months but has came off the bench in Leeds’ last two Premier League games and will have no doubt been working hard on his fitness over the last couple of weeks ahead of the trip to Palace.
Phillips will be chomping at the bit to make his first Premier League start since early December and help Leeds take a huge stride towards safety.
It’ll be tough at Palace on Monday night but we have a good feeling it’ll be Leeds’ day.
And the chances of us winning in the capital will no doubt be boosted by Phillips starting over Koch.
In other Leeds United news, this £40,000-a-week disgrace was Marcelo Bielsa’s biggest mistake at Leeds and should be bombed out of Elland Road by Marsch.