Leeds United will be hoping to make it back-to-back wins in the Championship on Friday night.
Leeds will be hoping to build on Saturday’s game against Brentford, which saw the first win of Paul Heckingbottom’s tenure, when they travel to the Riverside Stadium to face Middlesbrough on Friday night.
The Whites had threatened to win in the two games prior to the 1-0 victory over the Bees – having chances to see off Bristol City having already come from 2-0 down, and leading twice against Derby County – but Liam Cooper ensured that Leeds go into their next game with that winning feeling.
What made the display against the Bees all the more impressive was the fact that Leeds did it without Adam Forshaw and Pablo Hernandez, who had been two of the side’s most impressive performers in Heckingbottom’s first three games in charge.
After missing a game against one of his former clubs as his wife into labour, Forshaw may get the chance to return to face another of his old sides this week, but it seems unlikely that a gamble will be taken on Hernandez given that he sustained an injury against Derby.
If he is ready, it seems more likely that he will begin the game on the bench with the front four of Stuart Dallas, Samuel Saiz, Gjanni Alioski and Pierre-Michel Lasogga remaining unchanged.
The other change that may be on the cards – if Forshaw is available – may come at left-back. Heckingbottom has had no problem being ruthless so far, and he proved that when he dropped Laurens De Bock after his display against the Rams.
The Belgian is Leeds’ only recognised left-back in the senior squad, so it may be worth giving him another go against Tony Pulis’ side, despite Vurnon Anita performing well at the weekend.
With that in mind, here is a look at the Leeds predicted lineup in full…
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