OPINION
Marcelo Bielsa must axe Adam Forshaw if he wants to field his best possible starting line-up for Leeds United’s Yorkshire derby clash against Hull City at Elland Road on Saturday.
Forshaw was signed for £4.5million (BBC Sport) from Middlesbrough in January, but the defensive midfielder’s performances lately have not shown that he is worth anywhere near that much money and he must be dropped so that Bielsa can stick Kalvin Phillips back in the midfield.
That means that 6ft 5 colossus (transfermarkt) Aapo Halme should return from the bench to play in the heart of the defence alongside Pontus Jansson.
Leeds have not conceded a goal in the rarely-seen defender’s only two starts for the Yorkshire giants, but they have conceded four in the last two games when Phillips has partnered Jansson.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell may have had a stinker in the 3-2 win against Blackburn on Boxing Day, but he is a no-brainer to start in goals with Will Huffer lacking experience.
Luke Ayling, Halme, Jansson and Barry Douglas should be Bielsa’s back-four for when Hull make the journey from Humberside.
Phillips needs to start at the base of the three-man midfield with Mateusz Klich and Pablo Hernandez ahead of him in the more attack-minded roles.
Jack Harrison and Ezgjan Alioski both played well against Blackburn, so starting them on both of the wings would be the best way to carve up the Hull defence while Kemar Roofe has to start up front as the lone striker thanks to his impressive form in front of goal.
Leeds are on fire at the moment, having won all their last seven Championship fixtures.
Hull meanwhile are also in good form having won four of their last five games to move themselves away from the relegation zone.
However if Bielsa names this team to start against the Tigers this weekend then Leeds will absolutely rip them to shreds and bring an abrupt end to their current run of form.