Predicted Leeds XI v Fulham after Bielsa press conference
Leeds United fans were waiting for news of Patrick Bamford on Wednesday from Marcelo Bielsa’s pre-match press conference.
He is expected to be fit to play in the game at Craven Cottage on Friday night.
However, that good news was tempered by some bad – Rodrigo, his possible replacement, is a doubt after a knock picked up in training.
He was subbed as a sub in the Chelsea game and has obviously struggled to get back to full match fitness after returning from injury.
It’s a good job that Bamford is fit.
We think that Tyler Roberts will play in the number 10 position, with Bamford up top.
Rodrigo will be a miss.
Jack Harrison and Raphinha should play on the wings with Stuart Dallas likely to play in the position that has been dominated by Mateusz Klich. He’s suffered from a real drop in form this season.
Dallas being there means another start for Gjanni Alioski, with Luke Ayling on the right.
Liam Cooper has been ruled out with illness, thought to be Covid-related, and that will see 21-year-old Pascal Struijk handed another start alongside Diego Llorente.
Robin Koch should be on the bench after a successful return for the Under 23s.
This is the side that we expect to be tasked with breaking the London curse – Leeds haven’t won in London since 2017. A game against struggling Fulham is surely the best chance Leeds have had in a while to put the curse behind them.
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