Your Leeds United headlines for Saturday, March 18.
Gnonto vs England
Wilfried Gnonto is in contention to face England during the upcoming international break. Italy are set to play the Three Lions on March 23 and the Leeds winger has made Roberto Mancini’s provisional 30-man squad.
The 19-year-old has excelled since his £4million move from FC Zurich last summer. Despite the Whites’ underwhelming campaign, Gnonto has been a rare bright spark, with his performances earning a potential call-up for gli Azzurri.
ALSO READ: The Leeds United players selected by their countries for the upcoming international break
Mancini must trim his squad to 25 players before the England clash. Gnonto is aiming to add to his eight international caps.
Lopetegui’s order
Julen Lopetegui has urged his Wolverhampton Wanderers players to focus ahead of a potential six-pointer with Leeds United.
He told reporters: “I think the match has the same importance for Leeds as it does for us. Each match is going to be very important. Each match is a chance to achieve three points.
“It is difficult because all the teams (we play) are going to be ready. Leeds have a very good squad with very good players and an experienced coach in England.
“We anticipate a tough match - we have to be ready. It is different times, different teams, and different leagues (on previous clashes against Javi Gracia). We try to improve step by step, match by match, and now we have the focus.
“The next match with Leeds is important. We face this match with a big demand because it is going to be demanding. We have to be ready.”
To read more, click here.
Jordan ‘admires’ Leeds
Simon Jordan has admitted he “admires” Leeds but believes they are gambling on their Premier League future. For the second season running, the Whites are embroiled in a relegation dogfight.
Leeds have 23 points from 26 games - the same figure accumulated at this stage last year. Sitting 19th with just one win from 13 games, United face an uphill battle to retain their top-flight status.
He told talkSPORT : “I am a great admirer of Leeds United as a football club. I think they are a potential powerhouse of a football club with this passionate fan base steeped in great history and achievements in the past.
“But, to my mind, it (decisions by board) doesn't make a lot of sense. There’s also this kamikaze style of football they play that, sometimes, you do have to rein it back in a little bit every now and again.”
To read more, click here.
Pundits prediction
The experts are split on how Leeds United will fare against Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend. A trip to Molineux has all the hallmarks of a relegation six-pointer, with just four points separating the Whites in 19th to 12th-placed Crystal Palace.
Wolves are 13th, with Julen Lopetegui turning the tide on their season since his appointment in November. However, a patchy run of form has resulted in the Wanderers losing three of their last five games - while also beating Tottenham Hotspur.
It promises to be a nervy occasion at Molineux on Saturday as Leeds aim for a much-needed three points. Ahead of the game, LeedsLive has profiled how the pundits expect Javi Gracia and Co to get on.
To read what the pundits think, click here.
Staff decision questioned
Paul Robinson has questioned the Whites' decision to hire Chris Armas so close to Jesse Marsch's sacking after Javi Gracia confirmed that he was not part of his backroom staff set-up.
Armas was appointed as Leeds and Marsch's new assistant head coach at the club at the end of January. Less than two weeks later, the Whites parted ways with their American head coach as Michael Skubala, Paco Gallardo and Armas were given temporary charge of the first team.
“I just thought it was a really strange situation because if you had intentions of sacking the manager in the near future why would you allow him to bring in a coach that was close to him into such a high-level position,” Robinson told MOT Leeds News.
“There was clearly going to be no Jesse continuation, if they were sacking him then his coaching staff weren’t going to be staying on, so why allow him to bring in such a high-profile assistant?
“It’s just a really strange situation and it just adds to the confusion.”
To read more, click here.
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