Pranav Shahaney

Wed 22 February 2023 9:10, UK

Javi Gracia is expected to be in charge of Leeds United when they take on Southampton in a relegation six pointer at Elland Road on Saturday.

In his initial games in charge of Watford, Gracia lined up in a 4-4-2 system and we see him going back to this, ditching the 4-2-3-1 employed by Michael Skubala.

However, instead of having a flat back four, both his full-backs pushed forward and his wide players tucked into central areas to be the creative hubs.

At Leeds, this could mean the likes of Willy Gnonto and Jack Harrison playing in those central areas behind the strikers.

As a double pivot, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie have been doing well under Michael Skubala and we expect them to continue.

Goal scoring has been the main issue for Leeds and Gracia will surely be aware of this and will want to do as much possible to ensure that the Whites get themselves in good positions.

This is probably why we’re very likely to see Georginio Rutter starting alongside Patrick Bamford as both of them can complement each other well.

Rutter can be the one who drifts out wide, leaving spaces for Harrison or Gnonto to get into while Bamford could operate more centrally and be the primary goal threat.

Defensively, with Max Wober set to be ruled out, we’re expecting Pascal Struijk to be fit in time for the game and he’ll occupy the left centre-back berth.

The rest of the defence will pretty much pick itself and we could see a lot of the onus on Junior Firpo and Luke Ayling to get forward even more.

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