Is the pack shuffled?
The last time Leeds United encountered a congested bout of fixtures, Jesse Marsch was not afraid to ring the changes. Four days after an unfortunate loss to Arsenal and three days before a painful loss to Fulham, Leicester City was where the head coach felt he had to save some legs.
Three days after losing to Manchester City and four days before hosting West Ham United, Marsch will again have to judge which players can best retain his desired intensity. Luke Ayling, Junior Firpo, Diego Llorente, Jack Harrison, Mateusz Klich, Crysencio Summerville and Joe Gelhardt are all players you sense Marsch would have no problem starting.
Who does Tyler Adams replace?
The one name we can virtually guarantee will be starting is Tyler Adams. The USA captain is fresh to play after a suspension in midweek and will surely be champing at the bit to get going once more.
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The more pressing question is who he will replace. Adam Forshaw was very bright against the champions, but does he have the attacking thrust needed to play off that midfield three as a runner from deep?
Sam Greenwood was a little out of his depth at Elland Road, but has the set-piece delivery and attacking tendencies which can suit this lopsided 4-3-3 system.
Drameh in from the cold?
The public message from Marsch has repeatedly been warm on Cody Drameh. The young right-back has a future at Elland Road and he will be shown he can get minutes with Leeds, perhaps even imminently.
However, the 21-year-old was conspicuous by his absence from Wednesday’s squad and if he’s not among the subs today it will do nothing to dissuade him from considering another January exit.
Keep pace with last year’s form?
Last season felt pretty wretched from start to finish with only the briefest of reprieves over the course of the campaign. And yet, 22/23 is currently lagging behind that slow pace.
Twelve months ago, Leeds had 16 points from 15 matches. This time around it is only 15. Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites lost their 16th match and saw their average return drop to one point per game.
United need a draw on Tyneside to catch up or a win to nick ahead. Fall further behind that pace and the harder questions for Marsch are going to surface again.
Any injuries?
St James’ Park has felt like a setting from the Final Destination franchise in recent visits. No matter what Leeds, their head coach or medical team do, players get hurt at Newcastle United.
In January 2021, after making his long-awaited full debut for the Whites, Llorente would limp off inside 10 minutes with another injury from a ravaged opening few months in West Yorkshire. Then last season, in September 2021, Luke Ayling, Patrick Bamford and Raphinha would all limp from the field at various points.
For Bamford, it was the last time he completed 90 minutes and the first injury which began this horrific 15-month period of problem after problem.
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