OPINION
Marcelo Bielsa must hand Izzy Brown his first start for Leeds United if he wants to name his best possible team against Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday night.
Patrick Bamford went off injured in the 1-0 win at Bristol City on Saturday and it would be wise for Bielsa to not risk his key striker and hand Brown, 22, just his second appearance for Leeds.
The rarely-seen attacking midfielder joined the Whites on loan from Chelsea last summer, but his only appearance to date was when he came off the bench in the 1-0 defeat at QPR last month.
Bielsa should also recall Barry Douglas to the side to replace Jack Harrison.
The Manchester City loanee has played a lot of football lately and could probably do with being rested for the midweek action so he is fit and fighting ready for the club’s vital run-in.
Kiko Casilla must start in goals behind a back-four of Luke Ayling, Pontus Jansson, Liam Cooper and Douglas.
Kalvin Phillips picked up a knock in the win at Ashton Gate, but he is too vital to the way that Leeds play and must anchor a midfield that also contains Mateusz Klich and Brown.
Pablo Hernandez should start on the right-wing with Ezgjan Alioski pushing forward from the left-back position to play on the left-wing against Reading.
Tyler Roberts has been starting in the midfield lately but with Kemar Roofe injured and Bamford carrying a knock, he is a no-brainer to start up front as the lone striker.
Leeds need to win every game between now and the end of the season, with automatic promotion to the Premier League in their own hands.
And if Bielsa names this starting line-up against Reading, his side would surely annihilate the Royals and continue to march on towards promotion.