Mark Smith

Sun 5 December 2021 7:15, UK

Phil Hay has insisted that there could be two changes to the Leeds United side to face Brentford this afternoon at Elland Road.

The Whites picked up a brilliant three points late on against Crystal Palace earlier in the week thanks to Raphinha’s penalty.

Hay believes that the Leeds side that almost finished that last one could start against the Bees, meaning Rodrigo and Junior Firpo could come in.

Speaking on the Phil Hay Show, it was predicted that a couple of changes could be made by Bielsa this afternoon.

“I think he’ll go with Roberts again if Bamford isn’t back because that’s what Bielsa tends to do,” he said.

“In terms of the starting line-up, it’s become very difficult to guess. Does he think that Rodrigo made enough of a difference to start? I think it’s more likely that Firpo will come into the team because Struijk went off with the injury.

“There won’t be massive changes. Given the way it finished, it’s more likely to be the team in the second half than in the first.”

Big call.

If it was Rodrigo and Firpo to come in, it would be Mateusz Klich and Pascal Struijk to drop out based on this logic.

To us, that would make complete sense at this moment in time.

Klich has struggled all season and has failed to reach the heights he has previously set at Elland Road in the past two campaigns.

Struijk has been brilliant, but the hip injury that he has been clearly struggling with for weeks finally stopped him against Palace, and although expected to be fit, he needs a rest.

Firpo needs to prove himself, and the only way he is going to do that is to get a run of starts behind him in the Premier League.

Rodrigo was rested in that win, and should be raring to go against the Bees with the possibility of getting back on the scoresheet.

All eyes on 1 pm.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites are ready to make major January signings with unexpected deals to force action