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Beren Cross

Leeds United could unleash Jesse Marsch's plan B vs Crystal Palace in Perth

Trial plan B?

Jesse Marsch has been associated with a 4-2-2-2 formation throughout his career, but it's been used sparingly at Leeds United. The 4-2-3-1 dominated the run-in and has continued in the first three friendlies of the summer.

Liam Cooper referenced a 4-2-2-2 shape at the start of pre-season, so this may be a chance Marsch takes to try it out if he does want to have a plan B when the Premier League starts up. There will be one more chance back in the UK before the campaign starts.

Injury recoveries?

Archie Gray played a part in training on Thursday, but Cody Drameh and Liam Cooper continued to work separately from the main group. Attention will be on who proves their fitness overnight to be named in the squad.

READ MORE: Inside Jesse Marsch's Archie Gray talks with dad Andy on his Leeds United future

Gray should not be too much of a doubt, while Drameh has a decent chance, but Cooper seems a long shot and an unnecessary risk. In the case of Cooper, it’s his last chance to bank some minutes in Australia before the flight home.

Regaining momentum

There were some pockets of decent play during the loss to Aston Villa, but a defeat is a defeat and Leeds will be keen to regain some momentum before they head home from Australia. When you consider it’s Premier League opposition in Crystal Palace too, a win would certainly reassure the fanbase going into the new season.

Overdue starts?

Ten members of the travelling party have missed out on starts in the first two matches of the Australia tour. Harry Christy is the third-choice goalkeeper and Liam Cooper has been nursing an injury.

Darko Gyabi, Leo Hjelde, Cody Drameh, Crysencio Summerville, Sam Greenwood and Archie Gray are younger members of the squad too. That leaves Luis Sinisterra and Mateusz Klich as the two senior options in the squad you might realistically expect to be competing for league starts.

Sinisterra has effectively been confirmed as a starter by Marsch, but Klich will be hoping he also gets the nod. Summerville and Greenwood might also be hopeful of getting a chance from Marsch to prove themselves.

The latest left-back experiment

We saw Jack Harrison start the Brisbane Roar game, then Leif Davis had his turn before Leo Hjelde came into the picture during the second half against Aston Villa. While Marsch has admitted the club is now actively pursuing another left-back, he will take another look at his solutions in Perth.

Harrison seems an unlikely repeat experiment while Davis is surely set for the exit door based on Marsch’s comments about their transfer pursuit. Hjelde will not be going anywhere before the window closes and may be a useful run-out against Premier League opposition.

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