Izzy Brown and Jamie Shackleton are set to play for the Leeds Under-23s this afternoon as Carlos Corberan’s table-toppers play Watford.
Phil Hay reported the news ahead of the 2pm kick-off.
Brown made his debut for the Leeds first-team in the 1-0 loss to QPR Last Tuesday but looked off the pace and out of his depth. He made the bench for the 4-0 win on Friday but didn’t get onto the pitch.
He wasn’t involved in the Under-23s game last week but will be involved today as Bielsa tries to build up his match fitness.
Shackleton is also set to be involved after making a brilliant one-minute cameo in the West Brom game where he set-up Ezgjan Alioski for the fourth goal.
Under-23s are playing at Watford today – @JoeUrquhartYEP covering for us. Izzy Brown and Jamie Shackleton both involved. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) March 4, 2019
OPINION
It’s looking far less likely that Brown will play a major role in the Leeds run-in after his 10-minute cameo against QPR. He hadn’t played for a year before that, admittedly, but he looked so far off the pace it was almost shocking. It’s no surprise to see him put back into the Under-23s line-up and we think he’ll play the next few games for Corberan’s side as he attempts to prove to Marcelo Bielsa that he can play for the first-team. The good news for Leeds is that Tyler Roberts put in a blockbuster display in the number 10 position on Friday against West Brom. That’s taken some of the pressure off Brown but it will be interesting to see how he handles the Under-23s game today. He really needs to impress if he even wants to make the bench for the Championship game against Bristol City on Saturday.