Leeds United host Birmingham City on Saturday which will also be when the Whites celebrate their centenary day. Marcelo Bielsa’s men need all three points in Saturday’s game to keep in touch with table-toppers.
The Whites are currently two points off the top, following three defeats in the last couple of games. They have been hit with injuries to key personnel since the start of the season, but we could see a few of them return for the Leeds game.
Let’s take a look at the team that Bielsa could put out against Birmingham City:
Early Leeds United Team News
Liam Cooper has a groin injury, and he continues his recovery. Jamie Shackleton is nursing a hamstring injury and will be unavailable as well. Pablo Hernandez is fit again, and might feature.
Predicted Leeds United Lineup vs Birmingham City
Goalkeeper
Kiko Casilla would have relished the international break, after featuring in 13 matches in all competitions for Leeds this season. He will start in goal on Saturday.
Defence
Cooper will miss the game due to a groin injury, which means that Gaetano Berardi will take in his place in the Leeds United lineup.
Berardi was sent off in Leeds’ last game in the Championship against Millwall, but the red card was rescinded. He will play alongside Ben White at the heart of the defence, who has been in spectacular form this season.
Luke Ayling started at right-back last time around after his return from injury and he could continue in that position, while Ezgjan Alioski – who scored against Millwall – will start at left-back.
Midfield
Kalvin Phillips, who has been a rock at the base of midfield for Leeds, and he will start for Leeds on Saturday. We could see the return of Adam Forshaw to the midfield, after being sidelined due to an injury.
A return to the team could see him replace Stuart Dallas in central midfield, who played there in the loss against Millwall. Mateusz Klich will retain his position in the Leeds United lineup.
Attack
Stuart Dallas has been in tremendous form this season, playing at right-back. But the return of Luke Ayling could mean that Dallas could move to a position further up field, as he did in the two games for Northern Ireland this past week. We could maybe see him replace Jack Harrison on the left.
Hernandez has missed quite a few games due to injury, and he too could return and replace Helder Costa on the right.
We could see another change up front, with Eddie Nketiah replacing Patrick Bamford, after scoring a hat-trick for England U-21 during the week.
