Leeds United go into 2018 off the back of a defeat to the Championship’s bottom club.
The trio were all absent from the Whites’ starting lineup for their fixture with the division’s bottom side Birmingham City on Saturday, with Saiz coming off the bench for the latter stages of the game, while the midfield pair were not involved at all.
The trio’s absence appeared to hurt the team as the Blues ended their long wait for a win as a second-half goal gave them a 1-0 victory in a game where it was generally accepted that Leeds deserved nothing.
And after the disappointing performance, Gray predicted that Monday’s game with Forest will see Thomas Christiansen bring all three back into the starting lineup if they are available.
“Thomas didn’t give too much away, but I just hope that maybe, he’s thinking if he’d played Vieira or O’Kane today, they might have set them back for three or four weeks, so don’t take that chance even if they lose the game today, win the game against Nottingham Forest, they might be ready for that,” he told LUTV after the defeat.
“I think if those two players are ready, they’ll play on Monday, and Saiz will play.”
It would certainly be no surprise if Saiz returns to the starting lineup. He often looks to be Leeds’ most dangerous player and the fact that he did come on for the latter stages against the Blues certainly suggests that he will be ready to start against Forest – who are without a permanent manager after sacking Mark Warburton on Sunday.
Meanwhile, it would also cause little shock if there was a change in midfield, with Conor Shaughnessy and Kalvin Phillips enduring a difficult afternoon at St Andrew’s. And a number of Leeds fans will surely be hoping that O’Kane and Vieira both hand Christiansen a fitness boost by being ready for the game that will see the Whites look to get back to winning ways.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
