Leeds United fans would like to see two changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Southampton at Elland Road last weekend. The Whites extended their unbeaten run to three matches with a point against the Saints thanks to Jack Harrison’s first half goal.
But Jesse Marsch’s side can take a huge step towards survival when they face the Hornets this afternoon, as a win would take them 11 points clear of their weekend opponents. And in order to do so, supporters have urged Marsch to bring Kalvin Phillips and Joe Gelhardt into the starting XI.
Phillips came off the bench last week to make his first appearance in four months after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury. Marsch faces a major selection dilemma as to whether he partners Phillips with either Mateusz Klich or Adam Forshaw, but it is the latter who has been given the nod by the fans.
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Despite picking up a knock in the U23s’ 4-0 win over Crystal Palace on Monday, which has restricted him to just one day of training this week, supporters want to see Gelhardt lead the line. The 19-year-old made another decent impact from the bench against the Saints and fans think it is now time for him to get a chance from the start ahead of Daniel James.
Elsewhere in the line-up, it is unchanged, with a back five of Illan Meslier, Luke Ayling, Diego Llorente, Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas. That is despite Robin Koch coming in for praise from Marsch in his pre-match press conference, who will be pushing for a return to the XI. Raphinha, Harrison and Rodrigo Moreno make up the remainder of the side.
Leeds fans’ XI (4-2-2-2): Meslier; Ayling; Llorente, Cooper, Dallas; Phillips, Forshaw; Raphinha, Harrison; Rodrigo, Gelhardt
