MOT View: 30y/o to keep spot with four changes – Leeds predicted XI v Sheff Weds
Leeds United welcome Sheffield Wednesday to Elland Road on Saturday, with changes expected from the impressive performance against Arsenal.
Marcelo Bielsa will most likely bring back in some of his more experienced players into the side for the Yorkshire derby in the Championship.
The Whites were superb in the 1-0 defeat against Arsenal, and despite debutants Robbie Gotts and Illan Meslier impressing, we predict they will drop back to the bench.
That means Kiko Casilla and captain Liam Cooper returning to the back five, with Barry Douglas given the nod at left-back and Luke Ayling keeping his spot on the right with Ben White.
30-year-old Douglas impressed when coming off the bench against West Brom (being fouled four times, the most on the pitch according to WhoScored), and kept up that form against the Gunners. Ezgjan Alioski has been best used as a substitute at times, and could still have a big impact late on in the game.
That leaves a largely unchanged midfield and attack. Helder Costa is expected to return to the side despite failing to impress against Arsenal, he has been superb in league games recently.
He will most likely be joined in midfield by Kalvin Phillips, Mateusz Klich, Jack Harrison, and the returning Stuart Dallas in place of Gotts. That is all behind Patrick Bamford, who is struggling for competition to lead the line at this moment.
Bielsa isn’t one to make many changes to his side but this is more the South American welcoming back bucket loads of experience after a well-earned rest in north London.
A win against our Yorkshire rivals would be massive, and would also create more space between us and another play-off contender – vital at this stage of the season.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay: This is what I’ve heard behind the scenes at Leeds about Che Adams transfer