Very little has changed for Leeds United and Marcelo Bielsa in the way of starting options across the past fortnight as they prepare to travel to Tottenham Hotspur.
While Junior Firpo and Jamie Shackleton were the subject of good news in Friday’s press conference, Bielsa stopped a long way short of suggesting they were ready to start.
Given how young the bench has been in recent weeks, Bielsa may find it hard to keep them off the bench though.
Therefore, after arguably the best display of the season, there is every chance Bielsa does not change a thing with his XI.
Antonio Conte is expected to stick with the 3-4-3 he has employed throughout his career and keep Bielsa with a back-four.
There has been some speculation about Conte shifting to a 3-5-2 in order to control the midfield, so keeping Pascal Struijk in the team would be useful if a back-three is needed.
Daniel James did not impress as a striker with his finishing against Leicester City. That is one role Bielsa may weigh up switching.
There could be a straight swap with Jack Harrison or Rodrigo, but Mateusz Klich, a replacement if the latter shifted forward, seems to be some way down the pecking order right now.
Predicted line-up: Meslier; Dallas, Llorente, Cooper, Struijk; Phillips; Raphinha, Forshaw, Rodrigo, Harrison; James.
