Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has suggested that he will name an unchanged lineup to face Wigan Athletic on Friday afternoon, and Kemar Roofe must be left scratching his head.
The striker hasn’t started a match since returning from injury at the start of the month, but should feel somewhat aggrieved by Bielsa’s latest comments on his team selection.
Speaking in his press conference on Wednesday, as quoted by Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Lee Sobot, he said: “We’re going to play with the same team.”
Team news: "We're going to play with the same team. Cooper needs a chance to come back to the team, it is very difficult for him to play." #lufc
— Lee Sobot (@LeeSobotYEP) April 17, 2019
Things are getting really tasty at the top of the Championship now, and every game is a cup final for Bielsa and his boys.
Most fans will be pretty pleased to hear that the boss is planning to stick with the same 11 that saw off Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, but the fact of the matter is that Patrick Bamford has been very hit and miss in Roofe’s absence.
He may have bagged both goals in the 2-0 win over Preston North End last week, but prior to that he hadn’t netted since March 9th and he was poor last time out against Sheffield Wednesday.
This is the business end of the season now, real make or break stuff, and the last thing United need is a striker who might turn up, might not.
On paper, you would expect a walkover, but Wigan should definitely not be underestimated. The Latics are scrapping for their lives at the foot of the table, and if there’s one thing football has taught us down the years, it’s that you can’t write off a side threatened with relegation.
This game could be huge for both sides. It’s going to be tight, it’s going to be nervy, and Leeds need their main man and top scorer leading the line.