Jesse Marsch has explained his bold decision to hand Sam Greenwood his first Premier League start in the huge final day trip to Brentford. The 20-year-old was the surprise inclusion to the starting XI as he replaced Mateusz Klich in the only change from the Brighton draw last weekend.
It will be Greenwood’s seventh league appearance of a breakthrough season where he has looked a real talent for Leeds United. Speaking prior to the game, Marsch justified why he has chosen to include the young forward from the start.
“Sam Greenwood has been great. I think he's ready for this moment,” the Whites boss said. “I don't think anyone in the team is surprised that that decision has been made and we expect him to be ready to go.”
Along with Patrick Bamford’s omission from the squad, the return of Tyler Roberts to the bench was the other big news from the line-up announcement. Despite looking as though his season was finished as a result of hamstring surgery he needed after the defeat at Leicester, he has been deemed fit enough to be involved at Brentford.
Marsch discussed his involvement: “And then Tyler Roberts, with that situation it's probably a bit early to be thinking about exactly if he's 100 per cent fit, but we had a long talk with the medical staff, Tyler feels really good and if we need him in an emergency situation at the end of the match, then he's available.”
Leeds must better Burnley's result against Newcastle United to stay up.
