Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch secured his first win as Whites boss at Elland Road last month, courtesy of a last-gasp Joe Gelhardt winner against Norwich City. The side made it back-to-back victories for the first time this season as Wolverhampton Wanderers were defeated 3-2 at Molineux last time out. Southampton arrive in West Yorskhire on the back of four consecutive defeats in all competitions, while Leeds are in form and able to call on the likes of Raphinha, Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper once again.
Marsch stated all three players were in contention during Thursday afternoon's pre-match press conference, which comes as a welcome relief for supporters whose last glimpse of Cooper and Phillips at Elland Road was back in December. The American did concede it would be unlikely for both Phillips and Cooper to start against the Saints, but their inclusion in consecutive matchday squads does indicate there group are moving in the right direction.
Tyler Roberts, Junior Firpo, Leo Hjelde, Patrick Bamford and Jamie Shackleton are the senior names omitted from the squad this afternoon. All are recovering from injury, with Roberts expected to be missing until the summer. Bamford will sit out the next five matches at least with a ruptured plantar fascia in the sole of his foot.
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Marsch has decided to reinstate captain Liam Cooper to the starting XI; the centre-back has missed almost four months following hamstring surgery. He replaces Pascal Struijk in the line-up. His inclusion is contingent on the fact Kalvin Phillips takes a place on the substitutes' bench for a second gameweek in-a-row. The England international is understood to have been behind Cooper in his recovery timeline but is in place to feature in some capacity this afternoon.
Illan Meslier has recovered from 'severe bruising' following a collision with Raul Jimenez at Molineux two weeks ago; he retakes his place in the line-up after being replaced midway through the Wolves win by Kristoffer Klaesson.
Leeds United XI: Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Cooper, Dallas; Forshaw, Klich, Harrison, James; Rodrigo, Raphinha
Subs: Klaesson, Cresswell, Koch, Phillips, Struijk, Kenneh, Summerville, Greenwood, Gelhardt
