Ahead of today’s clash with Leeds, it’s time to predict what side Eddie Howe will go with at Elland Road.
Keeping form, fitness, today’s opposition and last week’s 1-1 draw with Watford in mind, here’s the 11 we can see starting come 3pm…
(5-2-2-1): Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Lascelles, Dummett, Lewis – Shelvey, Joelinton – Fraser, Saint-Maximin – Wood.
Martin Dubravka – He continues to look below his best and hardly comfortable with the ball at his feet, but he remains our best goalkeeper. After an unconvincing spell for the usually reliable Slovakian, let’s hope he can have a stormer here.
Kieran Trippier – Rock solid last weekend and clearly the most accomplished player on the pitch. Will be tasked with stopping Jack Harrison following his hat-trick at West Ham last Sunday and whipping crosses into Wood.
Fabian Schar – More capable on the ball than our other centre-back options, but needs to keep his head in this one. Hopefully he can create from deep and release the likes of Saint-Maximin or Fraser with ball in behind.
Jamaal Lascelles – The captain could be targeted for this one, with Leeds likely to press in a bid to expose his limitations on the ball. Fernandez would be my pick to return if fit, but with him out and Lascelles struggling, I wouldn’t be surprised if Howe puts him in the middle of a back five.
Paul Dummett – Kept Dennis quiet in his first start of the season last weekend and wouldn’t be surprised if he comes inside to play as a left-sided centre-back in this one.
Jamal Lewis – Our £15m man returned to training this week and could work well as a LWB given his ability to get up and down the line. Raphinha will be tough to stop, but he and Dummett could working in tandem could be our best chance of keeping the Brazilian quiet? Prior to his injury, he had shown signs of clear improvement under Howe.
Jonjo Shelvey – Started well under Howe but looked slow and cumbersome against Watford. We need him to be efficient on the ball and diligent off it in this one.
Joelinton – From £40m flop who can’t hit a barn door to box-to-box man mountain who looks like the Brazilian Vieira! He carried Shelvey and Longstaff last weekend and could have a big role to play in the midfield battle here.
Ryan Fraser – Some nice link up play with Trippier last time out and looks much fitter; something that will put him in good stead to match Leeds’s intensity here. Hopefully he can get deliver some good balls into the box for Wood, especially with Firpo out.
Allan Saint-Maximin – Showed what he’s capable of with that piece of magic against Watford and we may need more of that here. If he’s not going to get back to help out against Raphinha, let’s hope he can cause havoc at the other end!
Chris Wood – Looked a little rusty on his NUFC debut, however he’s a huge threat in the air and Leeds are known for being poor from set pieces. Looks set for another start with Wilson still missing and Gayle not match fit.
Predicted Leeds XI (4-1-4-1): Meslier – Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Hjelde – Koch – Raphinha, Dallas, Klich, Harrison – James.
