Leeds travel to Derby ahead of Wednesday night’s clash.
Leeds United face a difficult test against Derby County away from home on Wednesday night as Paul Heckingbottom goes in search of his first win in charge as manager – and starting Kemar Roofe will give him the best chance of achieving that.
The Whites currently sit way down in 11th place as their play-off hopes remain by a thread with eight points separating them from the Championship’s top six, with only 14 more league games to play.
Heckingbottom saw his side show some fight last time out against Bristol City, after the Whites went 2-0 down at Elland Road to Lee Johnson’s side before staging a comeback to draw 2-2.
Roofe, 25, came off the bench to score Leeds’ second and his 12th goal of the season as he got on the end of a Pablo Hernandez corner to bundle the ball home from close range ahead of Joe Bryan.
The former Oxford United and West Bromwich Albion ace had started the match on the bench with Heckingbottom opting to start Hernandez and Stuart Dallas on the flanks, with Caleb Ekuban and Pierre-Michel Lasogga up front.
But Roofe showed in his 26-minute cameo role that he knows how to find the back of the net, with a predatory instinct that must be utilised from the off if Leeds are to defy the odds and beat high-flying Derby in their own back yard.
The Whites are likely to play on the counter attack with Derby renowned for their ability to keep possession, especially at home, and Roofe’s speed will see Leeds gain much-needed territory and tenacity in front of goal
Starting the £6,000-a-week star, according to the Daily Star, will give Leeds the best chance of finally ending their winless streak of nine games and give Heckingbottom the win he needs to push on for a place in the top six.
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