Leeds United will be looking to build on their opening day win over Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend when they make the long journey to to the south coast to face Southampton. The Whites have four players returning, with Luis Sinisterra, Adam Forshaw and Liam Cooper being fit enough to travel, while Dan James has completed his suspension and is eligible once more.
As such, Jesse Marsch has options at his disposal this weekend. With that in mind, we have tasked our Leeds United writers Beren Cross and Will Jackson with selecting their starting line-ups.
Beren Cross
Momentum counts for a lot in football and making changes to Leeds United’s winning XI seems like a misstep so early in the season. There are four senior options newly available for Saturday’s trip to Southampton, but these can be used as options from the bench.
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Those nine choices Jesse Marsch has at his disposal from the dugout are going to be especially important on a day as hot as Saturday is forecast to be. The current predictions are beyond 30C in the middle of the afternoon at St Mary’s Stadium, so Marsch’s management of that factor could well decide the result.
Captain Liam Cooper is back in contention and known for finding match sharpness quickly, but having failed to kick a ball all summer it seems sensible to keep him on the sidelines. Diego Llorente and Robin Koch were more than adequate last weekend and deserve that chance to carry on.
Adam Forshaw’s own injury record is well known, so being savvy with his return to action is essential. Thankfully, Tyler Adams and Marc Roca were so impressive there is no need for Forshaw to be rushed in.
Daniel James only missed last weekend through suspension so there can be no doubts about his fitness and how much training he has had. However, Rodrigo has four goals in his last two games, Brenden Aaronson was one of the players of the weekend and Jack Harrison is welded to that left flank.
There’s nobody obvious you would drop right now for James, nor Luis Sinisterra, who has missed plenty of training and pre-season minutes. The Colombian needs time to find some sharpness.
Beren’s XI: Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Llorente, Struijk; Adams, Roca; Aaronson, Rodrigo, Harrison; Bamford.
Will Jackson
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Leeds United picked up their first win of the season last time out against Wolves and although Marsch has players returning, I wouldn't be making changes to the starting XI.
Dan James is one man returning to the fold after serving the final game of his suspension last weekend and he’ll be fresh after playing 90 minutes for the club’s under-21s at Derby County. However, for me, given the performances of Rodrigo, Brenden Aaronson and Jack Harrison last time out, James should come off the bench at St Mary’s this weekend.
The head coach has also confirmed Adam Forshaw, Luis Sinisterra and Liam Cooper are all in contention for this weekend’s game, but I’d have all three starting the game on the bench, especially Cooper who missed a majority of pre-season with a niggling Achilles issue. Koch and Llorente were strong together against Wolves and Cooper may be forced to bide his time before stepping into the side once more.
Mateusz Klich will be pushing for a starting spot after impressing off the bench last weekend and changing the game, but I'd have him play a similar role, alongside the likes of Joe Glehardt and Sam Greenwood.
Will’s XI: Meslier; Kristensen, Llorente, Koch, Struijk; Roca, Adams; Aaronson, Rodrigo, Harrison; Bamford.
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