OPINION
With Leeds United still without a handful of big guns, Marcelo Bielsa will make few amendments to the team as he makes final preparations for Saturday’s clash against Birmingham City.
The United players underwent their final full training session ahead of the game at their Thorp Arch headquarters this morning before a team meeting for Bielsa and his staff to make tactical fine-tuning.
The Argentine is set to make just one change to the side that swept Preston North End aside in midweek, with Jack Clarke given the nod ahead of Jack Harrison.
Bielsa explained at his media briefing on Thursday evening that he still cannot call upon Kemar Roofe, Pablo Hernandez, Jamie Shackleton and Gaetano Berardi, as well as long-term absentee Patrick Bamford.
That means Leeds are likely to stick with 10 of those who contributed to the sparkling win at Elland Road on Tuesday night as the team maintained top spot in the division.
The big decision for the manager is who to field on the flanks, with question marks over Ezgjan Alioski following some mediocre recent displays.
However, Bielsa is set to keep faith with the Macedonia international, an ever-present for Leeds’ eight league matches this season.
Manchester City loanee Jack Harrison scored the equaliser at Millwall last weekend but could well drop down to the bench for this match after two intense Championship matches in four days, something he is not used to.
Bielsa has never been shy of following an untrodden path and that could open the door for hugely exciting 17-year-old Clarke, who has been destroying defences both this season and last at Under-23s level.
He has been outstanding on the right wing for the Under-23s, who, like the senior side, are unbeaten this season.