Leeds United open their new Premier League season with a home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. The Whites will be looking for a much better start to the campaign than last year, when they were defeated 5-1 by Manchester United at Old Trafford.
While on paper it is a kinder start this time around, Wolves will provide Leeds with a stern early test given their strength at the back. In terms of how they could line-up, their starting XI is likely to have a very familiar feel to it with only one new signing through the door.
After recovering from a knee injury he picked up on the final day of last season, the impressive Jose Sa will start in goal. Wolves have trialled a four-at-the-back over pre-season but it is difficult to see them moving away from their more familiar back three given their strength in defence.
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New signing Nathan Collins is in line to make his full debut and is expected to start alongside Conor Coady and Max Kilman at centre back, despite the former having spent much of pre-season in their second-string squad. With Nelson Semedo injured, Jonny Otto is likely to start at right wing back, allowing the talented Rayan Ait Nouri to line up on the opposite flank.
Ruben Neves – who had been expected to leave Molineux this summer – looks set to start alongside Joao Moutinho in midfield, though Leander Dendoncker will also be pushing to be in the XI. Wolves will be without both Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore due to injury on Saturday and that could allow Morgan Gibbs-White, fresh from an impressive loan spell at Sheffield United, to start in the front three.
Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence look set to complete Bruno Lage’s attacking trio, with the latter potentially starting in a false nine position due to the absence of Jimenez.
Predicted Wolves XI (3-4-3): Jose Sa; Nathan Collins, Conor Coady, Max Kilman; Jonny Otto, Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Rayan Ait Nouri; Morgan Gibbs-White, Daniel Podence, Pedro Neto
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