Could Adam Forshaw and Samu Saiz form a midfield partnership for Leeds United this weekend?
According to The Yorkshire Evening Post, Pontus Jansson is a doubt for Leeds United’s visit of Bristol City on Saturday.
The Sweden centre-back suffered a foot injury in the 4-1 demolition at West Brom and missed his country’s international fixtures as a result.
If Jansson is out, it leaves head coach Marcelo Bielsa with a bit of a dilemma, given that Gaetano Berardi is also injured.
The Leeds boss could bring in Conor Shaughnessy, or he could make Kalvin Phillips drop back into central defence, as he did so effectively in the 2-0 win over Ipswich last month.
That seems the more likely choice for Bielsa and, if he takes that approach, it could free up Adam Forshaw and Samu Saiz to start alongside one another in midfield.
Forshaw, a £4.5 million [Daily Mail] addition in January, has started the Whites’ last three Championship games, but they’ve been at the expense of Saiz who dropped to the bench.
But with Phillips potentially moving into the back four, it seems plausible that Bielsa will bring the Spaniard back into the first XI.
It’s an exciting midfield axis which could be superb. Saiz, a £3 million [Yorkshire Evening Post] signing in 2017, is a wonderful player when he’s on form, as is Forshaw when he is fit.
And the prospect of the two starting alongside one another, instead of in place of one another, for the first time this season ought to excite the Elland Road faithful.
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