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Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa has revealed his team for the FA Cup 3rd round tie against Queens Park Rangers. Bielsa talked team news at his pre-match conference today (Friday 4th Jan).
First of all; Gaetano Berardi, Stuart Dallas and Liam Cooper are back in training but will not feature this weekend. Cooper is due to play with the under-23s before returning to the league side. Izzy Brown is also training, but is still to play more games for the 23s before being involved in the league too, meaning that he is due back for mid-February. Meanwhile, Pontus Jansson picked up a knock and will be back in full training on Monday.
So Marcelo Bielsa tells us that the Leeds team v QPR will be: Peacock-Farrell, Shackleton, Ayling, Halme, Davis, Forshaw, Baker, Roberts, Clarke, Alioski, Harrison. #lufc
— Lee Sobot (@LeeSobotYEP) January 4, 2019
Now for the crucial team news: Jamie Shackleton will play on the right side of defence with Aapo Halme and Luke Ayling will man in the middle. While also being suspended, Kalvin Phillips has also picked something up while Leif Davis starts at left-back with Barry Douglas also out through injury but thankfully, Tom Pearce is almost ready.
Adam Forshaw will remain in the ‘number 4’ spot while Lewis Baker returns to the starting eleven as a number eight. Tyler Roberts will also start in-behind the striker. Bielsa will also start Harrison upfront, a very interesting change. Jack Clarke gets a well deserved start while Alioski also remains in the eleven.
Bielsa: "I don’t think that many players will come in. And I couldn’t tell you if actually there’s a player who will come or not. It's if the club can get players who are better than the ones we have to come and in the position where we suffered some injuries..." #lufc
— Lee Sobot (@LeeSobotYEP) January 4, 2019
Bielsa also commented on transfers, telling the press: ”The position of the club is any player we bring in, has to improve the group. I can’t tell you if a player will come or not,”