Leeds face Middlesbrough on Friday night at Elland Road.
Marcelo Bielsa is set to welcome back his first-team stars after Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup defeat to Preston North End as Leeds United go up against Middlesbrough at Elland Road on Friday.
Leeds suffered a 2-0 loss to Preston, sending them out of the Carabao Cup after Bielsa made nine changes to his side following the 3-0 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road on Saturday.
But Bielsa’s men will have to bounce back quickly as they face a very difficult test against second-placed Boro, who are currently only behind table toppers Leeds on goal difference with 13 points from five games.
The Argentine boss confirmed in his press conference on Wednesday afternoon that Tom Pearce has suffered a knock, while Jamie Shackleton is awaiting news on a possible ankle injury.
He also confirmed that Adam Forshaw will only return until after the international break, but he did deliver some good news on captain Liam Cooper – stating he is a possibility for Friday’s clash.
Though Cooper could be available, it is likely that Bielsa may ease the in-form skipper back in and place him on the bench, sticking with the centre-back pairing that secured a clean sheet against Norwich in Pontus Jansson and Gaetano Berardi.
Bielsa is expected to make nine changes to his side, welcoming Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Luke Ayling, Berardi, Barry Douglas, Pablo Hernandez, Samu Saiz, Matuesz Klich, Gjanni Alioski and Kemar Roofe back into the side.
Out go Jamal Blackman, Shackleton, Conor Shaughnessy, Pearce, Stuart Dallas, Lewis Baker, Tyler Roberts, Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford, while 26-year-old Cooper remains on the bench.
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