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'Feel-good factor could be back' – Vinnie Jones predicts winner in Leeds v West Ham clash
Vinnie Jones has predicted that Leeds United will get this weekend’s Premier League action off with a bang with a win at Elland Road on Friday night.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men were beaten by Chelsea last Saturday but also out-run for the first time this season.
Chelsea had to run an extra 11km on their season average to make that happen and they deserved the 3-1 win.
Jones has tipped Leeds to bounce back in style, writing in his regular predictions column, “Kick off the weekend with a Leeds win against West Ham.
“Rodrigo could be back in the fray – from the start – although even without him starting the team continues to play well. As I said they had plenty of chances against the Blues and that will give supporters plenty of confidence.
“And the feel-good factor in the city could be back. Okay, Elland Road still can’t let fans in because they’re in tier three but the news that season tickets bought this season will be rolled out across next season, too, is just what fans wanted to hear.”
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Return of Rodrigo
It’s hard to predict changes that Marcelo Bielsa will make but it does seem like it’s time for Rodrigo to come back into the starting XI.
He’s been on the bench since recovering from Covid-19 and Leeds have missed the creative spark that he delivers, especially with the ongoing absence of Pablo Hernandez too.
West Ham have had a decent start to the season and are in eighth at the moment. A win would take them up to the heady heights of fifth.
However, the bookies agree with Jones. Leeds are just over evens for a win at Elland Road that would lift them to 10th – a position that would be more than acceptable come the end of the season.
West Ham are 12/5 for the win with the draw slightly bigger at 13/5.
The good news for Leeds is that it looks like Michail Antonio will be missing for West Ham on Friday, with either Sebastien Haller or Said Benrahma starting upfront.
Out of those options, we’d rather be up against Haller.
In other Leeds United news, Big injury blow hits, Bielsa to axe 28yo in 2 big changes – Predicted Leeds XI v West Ham