Senior duo axed, emerging talent starts: Leeds best possible XI v Sunderland

Thu 5 April 2018 19:30, UK

COMMENT

Leeds United manager Paul Heckingbottom must make three changes to his side to play against Sunderland at Elland Road on Saturday after the inept performance against Fulham earlier this week.

The senior duo of Stuart Dallas and Eunan O’Kane have to be axed while striker Caleb Ekuban should also be dropped.

All three have been below the level required at Leeds and Heckingbottom needs to mix things up to avoid a humiliation against relegation-threatened Sunderland this weekend.

Kalvin Phillips, Pierre-Michel Lasogga and emerging talent Tom Pearce should all return to the starting line-up in the hope that Heckingbottom can earn just his third victory in charge of the Whites.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell should keep his spot in goals behind a back four of Gaetano Berardi, Pontus Jansson, Matthew Pennington and youngster Pearce, who should earn just his second start for Leeds.

Ronaldo Vieira should partner Phillips in the centre of midfield behind Samuel Saiz, who should be starting in the No 10 role despite a drop in form over the past few months.

Even though Kemar Roofe is coming back from injury, Pablo Hernandez and Ezgjan Alioski must start on the wings as they have perhaps been Leeds’ only source of goals overt he last few weeks.