Leeds United will be hoping to put their disappointing draw at the weekend behind them on Tuesday night.
Leeds may have little to actually play for in the final weeks of the season, but Paul Heckingbottom is still coming under increasing pressure at Elland Road as he continues to struggle to prove that he is the right man to take the Whites forward with just two wins coming during his tenure.
It is perhaps harsh to judge Heckingbottom too strongly thus far, but the 1-1 draw with Sunderland – who are looking likely to be playing League One football next season – on Saturday saw Leeds put under enough pressure that made the home side look like the team fighting to give themselves a chance of survival.
A trip to Deepdale to face Preston North End on Tuesday will be a tough test with the Lilywhites two places and six points ahead of Leeds in the table. And once again, Heckingbottom making a few changes would not be surprising at all.
There is an enforced change with Gaetano Berardi suspended for the next five games after being sent off against the Black Cats. With Berardi playing on the left recently, it seems more than likely that Tom Pearce will come back into the side after his recent debut.
On the right of the back four, Vurnon Anita may perhaps come in. Stuart Dallas has done a decent job in the role recently, but Preston are likely to ask more questions, so perhaps giving the Netherlands international the chance to come back in may make a little more sense. But Dallas may not be dropped from the lineup altogether.
Gjanni Alioski was one of a number of players who were under par against Sunderland, so perhaps he may drop to the bench with Dallas pushing further forward to join Pablo Hernandez and Samuel Saiz in the three sitting just behind the striker.
Speaking of the striker, Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Caleb Ekuban have both struggled lately, so perhaps neither will start against Preston after Kemar Roofe returned at the weekend with a substitute appearance.
Those may be the only three changes, but perhaps the likes of Pawel Cibicki, Jay-Roy Grot, Sam Dalby or even Ryan Edmondson may be in Heckingbottom’s thinking with thoughts very much on next season.
Here is the predicted lineup in full…
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
