Phillips starts, £25k-p/w liability axed as Marsch makes big calls: Predicted Leeds XI - opinion

Leeds United return to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon when they take on Southampton at Elland Road.

Jesse Marsch’s side went into the international break off the back of a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Wolves at Molineux, and since then they have been handed some further boosts on the injury front.

While the Whites did confirm that Patrick Bamford would be out for a minimum of six weeks due to injury, they can welcome the likes of Liam Cooper and Kalvin Phillips back into the fold after the duo remained as unused substitutes against Bruno Lage’s side a fortnight ago.

Marsch will have some big calls to make ahead of the match, and below is a look at how Leeds might line up when Southampton come to town.

In goal, Illan Meslier is likely to be fit for the game at Elland Road despite being forced off midway through the second half against Wolves following a collision with Raul Jimenez which led to the Mexico international’s sending off.

The back-line could see one important change, with club captain Cooper ready and available for Marsch to call upon and shore up a leaky Leeds defence which has already conceded 67 goals this season – the most of any side in the Premier League.

Cooper could come in for Pascal Struijk, with the £25k-a-week ace having struggled of late, perhaps no surprise given that he remains only 22 and is playing in a high-pressure environment like the one in which Leeds find themselves right now.

Another huge call for the Leeds manager to make is in midfield, where Phillips is no doubt pushing to make his first start of the calendar year. If Marsch does opt to go that way, then Mateusz Klich could be the man to drop out, with Adam Forshaw partnering the England international in the engine