MOT View: Bielsa to make key change as big name ruled out – Leeds predicted starting XI v Hull
Leeds United made it three 1-0s in a row at the Riverside on Wednesday and now look forward to facing another very beatable side on Saturday.
Like Middlesbrough, Hull haven’t won a game since New year’s Day and they’ve conceded 16 goals in the last six.
If we weren’t playing them on Saturday it would be easy to find a bit of sympathy for them.
They had to sell star player Jarrod Bowen in January and while they’re not a one-man team, he was the only player who has scored double figures this season with an astonishing 17 from the wing.
But it got worse, Hull also lost Kamil Grosicki to West Brom and he’d scored seven goals for them this campaign.
From hoping to make the play-offs, they’ll have downgraded their aspirations to avoiding relegation now but we’re hoping they get nothing from Saturday’s clash.
As far as the Leeds side goes, we’re expecting one key change from Bielsa with Kalvin Phillips coming back.
The bad news for Leeds is that big-name signing Jean-Kevin Augustin has been ruled out after missing the Boro game with a hamstring injury.
Phillips also missed the 1-0 win against Middlesbrough and we really missed his presence in the centre.
Ben White did an admirable job stepping in for Phillips but, well, he’s not Phillips.
Phillips failed a late fitness test ahead of Wednesday’s game and the hope will be that he’s recovered to take his place in the starting XI against Hull.
Phillips makes our starting XI and he’s the only change for Leeds, with Gaetano Berardi dropping out.
He’s been unlucky this season and he put in such a good performance against Boro that we wouldn’t mind seeing him against Hull.
However, Liam Cooper and Ben White are solid as the number one partnership and we can’t see any changes there.
There’s no argument about Patrick Bamford starting as Augustin is out and we can’t see Tyler Roberts coming in for him.
We’ve also given up on predicting when the verdict from Kiko Casilla’s FA hearing will be delivered, and he could well appeal anyway even if he is found guilty.
He should start in goal and he’ll be looking for his fourth consecutive clean sheet.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Another apology coming from the EFL’ – Some Leeds fans react to Phil Hay update: ‘Shocking’