Bartley and Roofe omitted: Best combined Leeds and Preston XI
COMMENT By Harvey Byrne
Leeds are preparing to face Preston at Deepdale on Boxing Day in a match which sees fifth take on eleventh, but who makes their best combined XI?
Leeds attacker Kemar Roofe and defender Kyle Bartley are too notable omissions from the team due to the impressive form of the Lilywhites’ Paul Huntington and Callum Robinson.
Robinson can play across the front three, but is more often used on the left and he has bagged five goals and two assists in 24 appearances so far this campaign.
Meanwhile, Huntington has helped form an impressive back four, similar to Bartley, but the former Whites ace just has a bit more to his game.
The two Championship sides boast a wealth of talent in their squads and here is Football Insider’s best combined XI.
North End goalkeeper Chris Maxwell has been selected between the sticks ahead of Rob Green.
The 26-year-old has looked assured in goal this season, displacing former Manchester United man Anders Lindegaard, while Green has made a few high profile errors.
However, the defence is a different story with just one Preston player to Leeds’ three.
Luke Ayling, Pontus Jansson and Charlie Taylor have all built up a very strong back four for Garry Monk this season, while Huntington is the only North End player to make the XI’s back line.
The midfield sees a share of the spoils with two players from each of the Championship duo.
Jamaican Daniel Johnson has contributed with four goals and three assists from his midfield position this campaign, while Robinson joins him as the Preston representation in the centre of the park.
Meanwhile, Leeds boast summer additions Eunan O’Kane and Hadi Sacko, who have both started life at the Yorkshire giants’ in impressive form and are key players to the side’s promotion push.
The attack sees two big men partner each other in Chris Wood and Jordan Hugill.
The two players are the top scorers for their respective side and have led their teams excellently with 20 goals between them.
Altogether, Leeds contribute six players to the XI to Preston’s five and the match on Monday evening is expected to be another close encounter as Simon Grayson welcomes his former side.
In other Leeds news, Monk has delivered an emphatic update on the future of this star player.