Leeds United could unleash winger into line-up at first time of asking vs Swansea City
Leeds United visit Swansea City in a 3pm kick-off at Swansea.com Stadium this afternoon, with the chance to climb to the top of the Championship table. Daniel Farke visits a Luke Williams side with only two wins from their last nine matches, but a blunt attack backed up by a solid defence.
Here are five things to look out for around this afternoon's contest.
Win and go top of the table
Results at the top of the Championship went Leeds United’s way on Saturday. Sunderland saw three points turn into one at the death in Millwall, while Sheffield United conceded an 80th-minute equaliser at Coventry City too.
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Burnley did win at Bristol City, but the Whites are in a position to go top today. If they can beat Swansea City they will finish the weekend at the top of the pile on goal difference. They would also return to the magic two-points-per-game average they want, in order to stay on course for promotion.
Who leads the line?
After a six-game streak starting on the bench, Mateo Joseph was restored to the line-up in the last fixture at home to Queens Park Rangers. He failed to score, while Joel Piroe again found the net as a substitute.
The assumption is that switch was made after a busy week of fixtures. Does Daniel Farke reverse it today? Piroe’s scoring has been impressive, but his all-round display can frustrate, though a return to his former club could swing Farke if it’s as close as a coin flip for him.
Who plays opposite Gnonto?
Manor Solomon was another of those drafted in for a rare start in the last match. Daniel James’s intense run of games since returning from injury saw him pulled away from the fire last time out.
Solomon needs match time to have any chance of finding this form that saw Tottenham Hotspur take him to the Premier League last year. However, James has consistently looked better than the Israeli and will surely return to the fold at one of his former clubs this afternoon.
Another rout or as tight as the stats suggest?
The last trip to Swansea.com Stadium was in February and it was one of the biggest mismatches Farke oversaw last term. United were 2-0 up inside 10 minutes before a third in the first half and a fourth rounding things out after the break.
The Swans, still in the early stages of the Luke Williams reign, were like rabbits in the headlights that night. Unlike that result would suggest, they have grown to become one of the tightest outfits in the league.
While they are the weakest scorers in the divisions with 11 goals from 15 games, they have one of the best defences too, with only 10 conceded in the same period. Their results are generally draws or tight results in either direction, not four-goal capitulations. Which will it be today?
Four games to go on the suspension tightrope
Junior Firpo (suspended for another matter today) and Jayden Bogle may have got theirs out of the way, but Leeds have another two players trying to inch across the five-yellow suspension tightrope towards December 7. Joe Rodon and Wilfried Gnonto are on four yellows apiece and will be banned for one match if they pick up another caution today.
Gnonto’s absence would likely be covered by Solomon, while Rodon would need rusty options like Josuha Guilavogui or Max Wober to step into central defence. It's three more games until the cut-off after today.