Aston Villa have full-back issues Leeds United may look to exploit on Sunday at Elland Road. Luis Sinisterra and Jack Harrison are likely to be the hosts’ wingers, but there could also be joy for whoever Jesse Marsch chooses at full-back.
In the narrow system we know Marsch likes to use, full-backs have grown in importance if the Whites are to make any gains in wide areas. Makeshift or back-up choices from Steven Gerrard down the sides of the away defence could give Leeds wingers more space, and less pressure on home full-backs.
Right-back Matty Cash, who memorably added insult to injury with an unmarked final goal at Leeds in March, has been missing for more than 25 days after pulling up with a hamstring issue. Cash’s omission from the recent Poland squad confirmed he was not 100 per cent fit and there is a big dilemma for Gerrard on his first-choice option.
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Cash is likely to stick his hand up to play, but with another eight games to go for the Villans before the World Cup, Gerrard may think it wiser to give him one more week of recovery. The left-back issue is more cut and dried.
France international Lucas Digne is expected to be out with injury for two to three weeks and on-loan Ludwig Augustinsson could be where their boss has to turn. There are question marks around the Sweden international, however, and some suggestions veteran Ashley Young may shift over from covering Cash to cover for Digne instead.
Taking the latter route would, it’s understood, push centre-back Ezri Konsa into the right-back position and out of his comfort zone. BirminghamLive’s Villa correspondent, Ashley Preece, believes Gerrard trusts the likes of Konsa more than Augustinsson currently.
Whichever decision Gerrard takes it’s likely to weaken his team on paper in two positions where they will need to strength to cope with Sinisterra and Harrison, two of United’s most potent attackers.
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