Leeds to make significant change to starting XI against Brighton – report
By Alex Stevens
Leeds are set to recall Charlie Taylor to the starting XI for their Championship clash against Brighton on Saturday evening, according to a report.
The Yorkshire Evening Post claim the left-back is likely to start the Elland Road clash between the two promotion hopefuls.
Manager Garry Monk will have to reshuffle his defensive line after Luke Ayling picked up his 10th yellow card of the campaign in the 0-0 draw against QPR last weekend, which triggered an automatic two-game suspension.
Taylor dropped down to the bench against QPR after making his return to the team at Fulham last Tuesday following two-and-a-half months out with an achilles problem.
The 23-year-old was overlooked in favour of Ayling, who was restored at right-back after missing the Fulham trip due to the birth of his daughter, and Gaetano Berardi, who had deputised so impressively for the senior left-back during his lengthy absence.
Manager Garry Monk explained why cult hero Berardi was given the nod ahead of Leeds’ 2015/16 player of the year, Taylor.
“Berra’s been fantastic,” Monk said, as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post. “Luke’s been doing exceptionally well too and Charlie did well when he came on (at Fulham).
“A little bit of it is about looking after Charlie but I was making decisions. That’s what you have to do and there’s no problem with that whatsoever.”
Leeds are pushing strongly for promotion on the back of a six-match unbeaten sequence that has solidified their place at fourth in the Championship table.
Monk’s side have accumulated a tally of 66 points from 37 league matches but are a distant 11 points adrift of Brighton in the second automatic promotion spot.
In other Leeds transfer news, one of the club’s players is closing in on a sensational transfer to Manchester United.
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