Six Leeds United players who were in the senior matchday 18 for the weekend draw at Millwall have been named in the Under-23s squad against Sheffield Wednesday today (Monday).
United announced their team for the Professional Development League clash against the Yorkshire rivals and it includes Jamal Blackman, Tom Pearce, Jack Clarke and Lewis Baker, all of whom were on the bench at the New Den on Saturday.
Carlos Corberan’s side have also named Adam Forshaw and Ryan Edmonson, who also faced Millwall in the 1-1 draw, as substitutes for the 1pm kick-off today.
? | #LUFC U23s Starting XI to face Sheffield Wednesday today:
Blackman, Davis, Pearce (c), Halme, Gotts, Shaughnessy, Baker, McCalmont, Clarke, Stevens, Dalby pic.twitter.com/FowJqpW2Hs
— Leeds United (@LUFC) September 17, 2018
OPINION
Given their demotion to the Under-23s, it can safely be assumed that none of Blackman, Pearce, Clarke, Baker, Forshaw and Edmondson will be in the senior starting XI to face Preston North End tomorrow night. Indeed, it is difficult to envisage any of the six getting much game time at Elland Road in the Championship clash if, as expected, they are given decent run-outs today. Manager Marcelo Bielsa handed fit-again Forshaw the final 16 minutes against Millwall, while Baker replaced Mateusz Klich after 61 minutes at the New Den. He clearly thinks they need more game time before they are ready to start for the first team, which is certainly true in the case of Forshaw, given that he was absent for over a month with an injury sustained in pre-season. The January signing from Middlesbrough settled in well following his £4.5million transfer (source: Daily Mail) but needs minutes under his belt before he can start for the senior side.