Rotation could yet see a flurry of further changes from Jesse Marsch as Leeds United look to maximise the opportunity their final friendly brings them. Monaco will be the last chance Marsch has to try things out before the Manchester City juggernaut rolls into town.
Based on the tone assistant head coach Rene Maric was using on Friday night, injuries permitting, we should expect to see something different to the Elche and Real Sociedad games. Only two players have seen every minute of the two public games so far: Luke Ayling and Pascal Struijk.
Asked about the Monaco selection, Maric said: “We'll have to look how the training goes, how the players feel. If we don't risk anything we obviously try out some things.
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“We want to bring the whole group on a level where everyone is ready because we trust the whole group like we did before the break and we're in a good way to do that.”
Based on those sentiments, if the coaching staff really do want to put everyone on a similar level it seems likely Ayling and Struijk might be the ones to rest and let everyone catch up. Joe Robles and Leo Hjelde are the only others with more than 130 minutes from the two friendlies.
Illan Meslier was well enough to attend the Sociedad match, but if Wednesday comes too soon then Marsch may be tempted to let Kristoffer Klaesson sharpen up with a start. Rasmus Kristensen, after only 45 minutes on Friday, looks nailed on to continue at right-back.
Robin Koch and Diego Llorente are yet to play any part in the friendlies, but everything depends on their injury situation. The latter was described as ahead of everyone else in their comebacks by Maric.
Liam Cooper was taken off at half-time last week, so should be more than capable of continuing this Wednesday. He will want at least another half to sharpen up before City.
Junior Firpo is another medical mystery. He is in dire need of game time if he’s injury-free, otherwise, Struijk and Hjelde, who have played more than most in recent weeks, will have to keep deputising at left-back.
Marc Roca and Sam Greenwood have had more than two hours across the two friendlies, but could need some time together in the pivot before next week. Darko Gyabi and Tyler Adams, yet to play for Leeds since that Tottenham Hotspur red card, should be starting if the staff want parity in minutes on the clock.
Sonny Perkins, Brenden Aaronson and Jack Harrison are the fit attacking midfielders with the fewest minutes from the La Liga friendlies. While Rodrigo has played more than two hours across the last two, with Mateo Joseph lagging behind on 55 minutes.
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