Leeds will battle their Championship rivals for a place in the last eight of the competition.
With Kemar Roofe arguably putting in his best display since his summer move to Leeds United at the weekend, perhaps it makes sense for Garry Monk to give him a chance in his favoured position in their EFL Cup tie with Norwich.
The striker is still awaiting his first goal for the Whites – though he appeared to possibly open his account with the winner against Wolves – and his form has been criticised.
Leeds United’s Kemar Roofe and Fulham’s Denis Odoi in action
And while some will point to step up that he made over the summer, moving from Oxford United, surely the main reason for his struggles is the fact that he has predominantly featured out on the wing.
Chris Wood has done little wrong this term, and tops the club’s goalscoring charts by some distance. But it is perhaps a dangerous strategy to go into the busiest period of the season without giving the likes of Roofe and Marcus Antonsson the chance to lead the line, especially given Wood’s injury record during his first campaign with the club.
Leeds’ Kemar Roofe and Blackburn’s Jason Lowe in action
While Monk and his team would love to continue their run in the cup, he would surely rather strengthen their chances of continuing their promising run in the league, and giving Roofe the chance to get up to speed in case Wood does need a rest would arguably do that.
And it is not like selecting the 23-year-old will severely harm their chances of getting the better of Norwich. He was sensational for Oxford last season, scoring 26 times in all competitions, so it would take a brave man to bet against him scoring if he finds himself in a dangerous position against Alex Neil’s men.
Leeds United manager Garry Monk
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