Junior Firpo and Rodrigo axed, Willy Gnonto and Max Wober decisions made – Confirmed Leeds United XI vs Bournemouth
Javi Gracia’s Leeds United starting XI for the crucial Premier League trip to face Bournemouth in the relegation battle has been confirmed by the club.
Willy Gnonto has finally been brought back into the starting line up by Javi Gracia after Luis Sinisterra’s injury, but Max Wober is only fit enough for the bench.
Rodrigo and Junior Firpo have both been dropped, but it is Rasmus Kristensen who comes into the back line rather than the Austrian, with Crysencio Summerville also in from the start.
Illan Meslier stays in goal, with Luke Ayling, Robin Koch and Liam Cooper in defence with Kristensen, while Weston McKennie and Marc Roca remain in midfield.
Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford keep their places in attack with the returning Summerville and Gnonto.
Crunch
There really is no margin for error any longer, and the close call with Nottingham Forest’s game against Brentford on Saturday needs to have jolted this side into life.
As things stand both Steve Cooper’s side and Leicester only need to draw a game to go above the Whites, so points are badly needed to avoid slipping into the bottom three in the next week, which would be a major psychological blow.
A trip to Manchester City is about as close to a guaranteed defeat as there is in the Premier League right now, as Arsenal discovered in the supposed title-tilt on Wednesday (26 April), so it would be a huge shock for Leeds United to pick up any points next week.
And a visit from Newcastle isn’t much easier the week after, so if Gracia can’t inspire his side to get something on the south coast there is every chance they are in the drop zone when the final two games of the season come around, by which time it could be too late.
Some of his team selections have been unpopular to say the least of late, but he needs to have got this one right or the writing may be on the wall for the club’s stay in the top flight.
Wober would have been a key boost but at least he is on the bench although the return of Kristensen will have fans on edge, but the long-awaited return to the starting line up of Gnonto should help.
In other Leeds United news, a BT Sport pundit has shared what they heard about potential behind-the-scenes conflict at Elland Road.