It’s a new dawn at Elland Road with Javi Gracia last week named as the Leeds United manager until at least the end of this current campaign.
Gracia is a name known by Premier League fans due to his largely successful 20-month spell at Watford FC in which he guided them to 14 th and 11 th placed finishes as well as the club’s first FA Cup final in 35 years.
The Spaniard’s first game in charge at the Hornets was coincidentally also against Southampton, but Leeds fans will be hoping for a different result to the 1-0 away loss that day.
Gracia has made only one change from the starting XI that fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat last time out against Everton at Goodison Park, with Brenden Aaronson replacing Crysencio Summerville who drops to the bench today.
In what is another vital game against a fellow relegation candidate with only a point separating the two sides slumped in 19 th and 20 th , Gracia will know that a win could take them out of the drop zone and above West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton.
Illan Meslier makes his 24 th Premier League appearance of the season, making him the only Leeds player to start every possible game this term. In front of the Frenchman is the familiar back line that started both of their last two fixtures of Luke Ayling and Junior Firpo at fullback with Robin Koch and Maximilian Wöber forming a strong partnership at centre back.
Many debated whether Rasmus Kristensen, who is capable of playing across the backline, would get the nod in defence, but he is limited to the bench whilst Stuart Dallas remains side-lined as does Pascal Struijk, who has been a key figure for the Whites this season, with the Dutchman ruled out through concussion.
In midfield it is the inseparable partnership of Tyler Adams and January recruit Weston McKennie, who has started all but one match since joining from Juventus last month.
Marc Roca, who many expected to be a preferred choice of fellow Spaniard Gracia, starts on the bench alongside Darko Gyabi, with Adam Forshaw unavailable for this encounter.
Brenden Aaronson comes back into the side against the Saints with it remaining unclear if the 22-year-old will start centrally or wide. Jack Harrison keeps his place in the starting XI, but the
Wilfried Gnonto, who has been a shining light for Leeds since coming into the side, keeps his place on the left of the three behind the striker, with the main question being if Jack Harrison starts centrally or on the right, with Brenden Aaronson, who started on the bench against the Toffees, also able to play both roles.
Patrick Bamford leads the line once again for the Whites, preferred over January big money signing Georginio Rutter, whilst Rodrigo Moreno out with an ankle injury until early April.
Leeds United: Illan Meslier; Luke Ayling, Robin Koch, Maximilian Wöber, Junior Firpo, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Jack Harrison, Brenden Aaronson, Wilfried Gnonto, Patrick Bamford
Bench: Joel Robles, Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter, Darko Gyabi, Diogo Monteiro, Mateo Joseph, Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca, Sam Greenwood
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