Leeds United

Leeds United: early team news – two to miss out but two back

Leeds United need to recover from the hangover that was Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at the hands of Barnsley and do so quickly – tomorrow provides that opportunity.

19th-placed Nottingham Forest are the visitors to Elland Road for tomorrow night’s game under the Elland Road lights, the Reds winning their first game in nine at the weekend with a 1-0 victory over Bristol City.

Whilst Leeds United are experiencing a relative sense of stability after two seasons of constant flux, Forest are right there in it themselves. In Fawaz Al Hasawi they have an owner that the fans cannot abide by, have experienced a takeover fall through at the last hurdle, and even their captain sold to league rivals. It’s all very ‘Leeds United’ at the City Ground at the moment.

Leeds’ first defeat in seven, conceding three goals for the first time since last facing Forest, has hit home hard and both fans and players are feeling it. But it needs to be said that it was a much-shuffled defence that contested that game, contested yet was found wanting.

In early team new, Leeds United fans can look forward to a double treat with two players coming back into contention. On the downside, Whites fans will have to do with out two player who will miss out tomorrow night – news of both coming as per an announcement by Leeds United’s Twitter account.

The return of defensive talisman Pontus Jansson will allow Leeds United to have a more settled, experienced back four and re-establish that solid partnership of the big Swede and Kyle Bartley. This will free Luke Ayling to take up his regular right-back role and leave Gaetano Berardi at left back to cover Charlie Taylor, who sadly misses out yet again due to an Achilles injury.

Also missing out is back-up centre-back Liam Cooper who misses a third game with a leg injury, but there is better news with Leeds’ second player coming back into contention in youngster Hadi Sacko.

The on-loan Sacko posses the pace and drive that helps to get Leeds United up the pitch at speed. It was this sort of drive that was lacking against Barnsley and something that could very well be a potent weapon against Nottingham Forest.

Previous Article
Rafa Benitez

Magpies eye in form Forest midfielder

Next Article
, PREVIEW: Sky Bet League One (24/01/2017)

PREVIEW: Sky Bet League One (24/01/2017)

Related Posts