Sky pundit: There will be no disgrace if Bielsa makes this decision for Leeds clash v Arsenal
Sky Sports pundit David Prutton has admitted that Marcelo Bielsa could name an inexperienced Leeds United team to play against Arsenal on Monday.
The Whites travel to the Emirates for their FA Cup third-round fixture off the back of playing West Brom on New Years Day and ahead of a Yorkshire derby showdown with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
Bielsa has already confirmed four of the changes he will make for the game.
Illan Meslier and Robbie Gotts are both set to make their first-team debuts for United while Barry Douglas and Gaetano Berardi are also going to return to the starting line-up.
However ex-Leeds midfielder Prutton reckons there’s a chance that Bielsa could make further changes to keep his side fresh.
“There will be no disgrace if Marcelo does make wholesale changes and puts the kids in to keep the older lads or the baulk of the team fresh for the league,” said Prutton on the Yorkshire Evening Post website.
“But either way there’s enough time between the fixtures to be able to play his best team possible and Leeds have got a great chance of going there and getting a result.”
Prutton makes a good point.
Leeds playing on a Monday night is kind of a blessing because it has been five days since their last game and will be another five days before their next fixture.
It is definitely a good enough rest period in between matches but still, after such a hectic festive period, it will be a good idea to let some key players have the night off.
Bielsa has said that Kiko Casilla, Liam Cooper, Helder Costa and Stuart Dallas will be rested but there are other players who could also do with that.
Patrick Bamford has only just returned from a slight injury issue and has played a lot of football this season while Mateusz Klich has started every Championship fixture this term.
No one would begrudge Bielsa if he made wholesale changes.
In other Leeds United news, fans are raving about a transfer link to this Championship striker.