Michael Skubala faces the media on Friday afternoon for his pre-match press conference. The Leeds United caretaker will take questions from television, radio, print and online journalists at Thorp Arch ahead of the Manchester United clash on Sunday.
Here is a run-down of some of the main topics on the agenda for the under-21s boss to address at the training ground today.
Injury latest
The big caveat for Skubala’s latest press conference is how reserved he has been in his first two briefings with the media. The caretaker boss has been very careful to say as little as possible in his answers, especially when it has come to medical details.
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Adam Forshaw, Liam Cooper, Marc Roca, Stuart Dallas, Sonny Perkins, Rodrigo, Pascal Struijk and Luis Sinisterra all have question marks hanging over them for Sunday’s rematch. You can expect Skubala will be quizzed on them all, even if he does not want to give too much away.
Will he definitely be in charge on Sunday?
He may not be asked directly about where the club is at with its head coach search because he’s not on the board, but he’ll certainly be asked to confirm how he’s been told the next few days will pan out. While he’s fulfilling the pre-match media duties, will he still be the man asked to take charge by the time the game comes around?
Mood at Thorp Arch after Wednesday’s draw
It may not have been a win on Wednesday night at Old Trafford, but in the circumstances, that was considered a very good point for the Whites. It is sure to have put tails up around the training ground and Skubala may be asked to describe what the mood has been like around Thorp Arch after the match, given how Jesse Marsch’s sacking may have knocked morale.
Elland Road anticipation
Skubala may have taken in Old Trafford on debut with United’s first team, but to experience a clash against the club’s most-hated rival at Elland Road is bound to be an eye-opener for him. His thoughts and emotions going into that cauldron of noise and anticipation are bound to come out this afternoon.
Lessons from Wednesday
While he did not give much away after Wednesday’s match, now he has had time to analyse the draw, Skubala’s lessons from the draw could be telling. Or, of course, he straight bats the question like most of them.
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