Beren Cross
Injury news was again thin on the ground in a Leeds United press conference this week. As was the case with Michael Skubala, Javi Gracia declined to say anything about where the medical department is at with their player treatment.
The hope is this was a one-off while he is getting his feet under the table and getting used to the training ground and squad. That leaves us playing the guessing game on who’s in and who’s out.
The assumption is Max Wober, if he really did dislocate his shoulder last weekend, will need more time to recover before returning to action. Liam Cooper was fit enough for the bench last weekend, but not for extended minutes.
The captain is an obvious recall at centre-back if the Austrian is on the sidelines. The rest of the defensive unit would continue for me.
Junior Firpo is the only one with recent question marks hanging over his head, but his last two performances have been better than decent, so he continues in my side. Pascal Struijk’s status on the concussion protocol is also in doubt.
There was a glimpse of Marc Roca on the training field in club media this week. If he is fit, I would draft him back into the side ahead of Jack Harrison.
While a switch from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3 looks like a negative move on paper, it could bring more balance to the pitch and, broadly, more control in the middle of the park. Roca’s reintroduction would also free Weston McKennie to link up with the front three from deep.
The attacking trident virtually picks itself at the moment. With Rodrigo and Luis Sinisterra injured, Crysencio Summerville, Patrick Bamford and Wilfried Gnonto seem the best options.
Georginio Rutter looks like the one capable of putting the cat among the pigeons, but on recent evidence, he’s not ready to start in a must-win match like this.
Beren’s XI: Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Firpo; McKennie, Adams, Roca; Summerville, Bamford, Gnonto.
Will Jackson
Changes surely have to be made this weekend following Leeds United’s miserable performance at Everton. This is undoubtedly Leeds’ biggest game of the season and the system used will be a big talking point as Javi Gracia gets to work at Elland Road.
Personally, I’d stick with the 4-2-3-1 that worked well against Manchester United earlier this month, but with a couple of tweaks, based on performances and injuries. The first major one comes in the backline with Liam Cooper replacing Max Wober, assuming the club captain is fit and able to play, of course.
Cooper was named on the bench last week at Goodison Park, but it was telling he didn’t enter the fray when Wober came off with a shoulder injury. His presence and leadership in the backline could be enormous, though, in a game that is heaped with pressure.
I’d keep Junior Firpo in the side. The left-back was arguably one of the better performers at Goodison and I’d stick with him, irrespective of Pascal Struijk’s concussion status.
Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams must start in the middle, but ahead of them I’d be making another change, replacing Jack Harrison with Sam Greenwood. Greenwood has struggled for regular first-team minutes of late, but he has more than caught the eye in the under-21s side over the last couple of weeks.
He was one of the best players on the park in the youth side’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle United on February 13 and he followed that up with another superb showing off the bench against Aston Villa last Monday night, taking control of the contest, oozing with confidence and helping Leeds to victory. He looks at home in the number 10 role and his set-piece delivery could be absolutely huge in such a contest.
Gnonto gets the nod on the left, obviously, while Summerville looks the obvious choice on the right. Bamford starts up front, but he needs better service this week.
Will’s XI: Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Firpo; Adams, McKennie; Summerville, Greenwood, Gnonto; Bamford.
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