Leeds United line-ups vs Man United as Struijk and…

Leeds United line-ups vs Man United as Struijk and Harrison are axed with Bamford in doubt

Beren Cross

Bumps and bruises undisclosed by Michael Skubala in Leeds United’s pre-match press conference mean it’s a tough task pulling together a list of available players for tomorrow night. Assuming the squad is in the same condition it was coming out of Sunday’s loss, there would be two changes if I was in the dugout.

Robin Koch, back from suspension, would firm up the central defence which, in its defence, did well at the City Ground. More pertinently, the German’s return allows Max Wober to relieve Pascal Struijk of his duties at left-back.

The Dutchman has been in a tough place since the turn of the year and his fading form means the club’s first-choice back four picks itself at the moment. The other switch comes in midfield, for me.

Jack Harrison was barely seen in Sunday’s loss at Nottingham Forest, which was disappointing after such a star turn in the FA Cup. The expectation is 90 minutes of sustained pressure from Manchester United tomorrow night and putting a more natural central midfielder alongside Tyler Adams and Marc Roca may just firm the core of the team up.

Weston McKennie, decent enough from the bench at the weekend, may be the ideal competitor for circumstances like Wednesday. The front three would remain the same for me.

Trying as Patrick Bamford’s afternoon was in Nottinghamshire, there was zero evidence to suggest Georginio Rutter is about to do significantly better as the team’s centre forward. The Frenchman could always replace Luis Sinisterra, but the Colombian still edges that right flank tussle based on his first-half threat at the weekend.

Beren’s XI: Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Wober; McKennie, Adams, Roca; Sinisterra, Bamford, Gnonto.

Will Jackson

It’s hard to predict how Jesse Marsch’s sacking will impact the players going to Old Trafford, but Sunday’s lacklustre showing was enough to suggest changes need to be made to the XI this week, for me. Yes, the players were only following the head coach’s plan, but too many underperformed at the City Ground.

Firstly, I’d go with a back four of Luke Ayling, Koch, Liam Cooper and Wober, with Struijk stepping out of the side to make room for the return of Koch, who missed the game in Nottingham due to suspension. Struijk struggled to deal with Brennan Johnson on Sunday and he looked visibly short of confidence as the game progressed.

As such, I’d push Wober out to that left-back spot in the hope he can contain the threat of whoever stands in for Antony on Manchester United’s right edge, with Cooper keeping his place at the heart of defence. Weston McKennie comes into the midfield three to play alongside Adams and Roca to provide solidity in the middle and the trio will have their work cut out.

Erik ten Hag will be without Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, but Bruno Fernandes will take plenty of occupying, that is for certain. Jack Harrison was anonymous against Forest on Sunday so he’s the man I’d drop from the starting XI, with Patrick Bamford joining him on the bench.

Bamford had a difficult afternoon at the City Ground and the pace of Rutter might offer a little more when Leeds get the chance to break quickly at Old Trafford. Rutter cut an isolated figure in Nottingham, too, but I’m keen to see him given the chance to show what he can do on the biggest stage.

Throw Wilfried Gnonto and Sinisterra in either side of the Frenchman and Leeds have an attacking line-up that can cause issues against the Red Devils, in my view.

Will’s XI: Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Wober; McKennie, Adams, Roca; Sinisterra, Rutter, Gnonto.

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