Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United will face Rotherham United today.
Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa revealed his starting lineup for this afternoon’s Championship game against Rotherham United as early as Thursday, as quoted in The Yorkshire Evening Post.
With star defender Pontus Jansson suspended for the match, Kalvin Phillips is to slot into the backline.
Phillips is a central midfielder by trade, but the 23-year-old has played in central defence from time to time this season.
Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan, though, has suggested that he would have liked to see Aapo Halme in defence against Rotherham, not Phillips.
The 20-year-old Finland Under-21 international central defender, who stands at 6ft 5in, has made one starts and three substitute appearances in the Championship for Leeds so far this season, according to WhoScored.
Whelan said on BBC Radio Leeds when asked if he is surprised that Phillips will start instead of Halme: “Well, not really because he (Bielsa) goes for experience. Kalvin Phllips has played there. Personally I agree.
“I would have liked to see Halme given another runout from the beginning, playing there next to Cooper and put Kalvin back into his original position where he has been absolutely fantastic all season.”
Big game
With Rotherham fighting for survival in the Championship at the moment, Leeds will be confident of picking up all three points this afternoon.
However, having lost to Stoke City last weekend, the Whites will have to win this afternoon and get their challenge for automatic promotion to the Premier League back on track.
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