Bielsa to mix things up for Cottagers visit
21 Sep 2021 07:13 am, by Ellandback1
Good Morning. It's Tuesday 21st September, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road
Bielsa to mix things up for Cottagers visit
There are a lot of absentees for Leeds United at Fulham tonight with Koch, Llorente, Ayling, Harrison all ruled out. Patrick Bamford also took a knock in the second half at Newcastle and is not expected to play. Forshaw has a chance of featuring though. Jamie Shackleton, Adam Forshaw, Crysencio Summerville, Dan James and even Charlie Cresswell are all expected to be including in the starting line up at Craven Cottage this evening. It could be a chance for in form striker Joe Gelhardt to start following his brace against Liverpool U23a but Elland Road sources claim that Tyler Roberts will instead occupy the number nine role.
Expected line up: Meslier, Shackleton, Cresswell, Cooper, Firpo, Forshaw, Klich, Dallas, James, Summerville, Roberts
Anxious wait on Ayling
Leeds face an anxious wait to find out whether Luke Ayling has suffered knee ligament damage during the closing stages of last Friday nights clash at St James Park. Should the versatile defender have damaged his Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL - The ligament, located in the centre of the knee, that controls rotation and forward movement of the tibia), he could be sidelined for most of the season! Former player, and Leeds Utd Foundation Officer Noel Whelan expressed his concern...
We are already struggling with centre-halves. Ayling’s didn’t look the worst to me at the time. He just came in and blocked a challenge, that dangling leg just got caught. It looked like he may have tweaked a knee ligament, which would be the last thing Bielsa needs. They will have a look and hopefully it isn’t too bad.
Leeds should have been awarded penalty - Gallagher
Veteran referee, now pundit Dermot Gallagher has stated that Leeds should have been awarded a penalty for Joe Willock’s challenge on Dan James last Friday night at St James Park. The 64 year old ex Premier League referee was asked whether the Toon were lucky to escape a spot kick, to which Gallagher replied...
I think Mike Dean thinks Dan James has run into Willock. I think maybe he’s too close and doesn’t have a clear view. I think it’s a foul and penalty – he puts the ball by, and there, Willock goes in and stops him. I think that’s as high on the tolerance level before the VAR reviews.
