Leeds United will be looking to get back to winning ways in the Premier League as they make the trip to south-east London to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
A 0-0 draw at home to Aston Villa last time out may give manager Jesse Marsch ample reason to adjust his starting XI, though he will be forced into at least one change as he does not have the suspended Luis Sinisterra available for selection.
The American head coach has talked up Crysencio Summerville’s credentials in the build-up to today’s encounter but it would be a big surprise to see the new no.10 trusted with a start from the off.
Patrick Bamford, 29, could come in for his first start since August 13th, which means Rodrigo drops deeper into a secondary striker role, forcing Brenden Aaronson out wide.
They’ll be joined by Jack Harrison in the attack.
Further back, it should remain largely unchanged with Marc Roca and Tyler Adams continuing the defensive midfield tandem that has worked ever so well throughout the campaign so far.
In defence, it would be hard to make many alterations after they kept a clean sheet against the Villans despite only having ten men on the pitch, though we could well see vice-captain Luke Ayling come in for Rasmus Kristensen on the right in the second and final change from last weekend.
Marsch’s £10m summer signing, who ex-Salzburg boss Matthias Jaissle once lauded for being an “absolute leader” and a “goal threat”, has done little wrong but the 31-year-old’s experience in the top-flight could be valuable – particularly if he’s up against Wilfried Zaha – in a game that Leeds ultimately need to win.
The long-serving dynamo would join skipper Liam Cooper, Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk, who is still preferred to Junior Firpo at left-back.
Predicted Leeds XI (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Struijk, Cooper, Koch, Ayling; Roca, Adams; Harrison, Rodrigo, Aaronson; Bamford
AND in other news, Marsch handed huge boost ahead of Palace…