Liam Cooper is the only Leeds United player who may yet have the power to alter Marcelo Bielsa’s thinking for Saturday’s Cardiff City clash.
The head coach has made it clear he will only select his captain if he is 100 per cent fit and at no risk of aggravating his injury.
Gaetano Berardi’s performance on Tuesday night may have had something to do with Bielsa’s confidence in leaving Cooper out if he needs to.
Elsewhere, the major selection dilemma seems to revolve around Ezgjan Alioski, who has two goals in two matches and good form down the left flank.
Here are three different combinations United could go with as Cardiff City, most recently playing a 4-2-3-1, head to Elland Road in the Championship.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it - predicted XI
Berardi proved himself again. Keep him in, don’t risk Cooper and let Alioski do his talking off the bench again.
All out attack
Eddie Nketiah remains the man most people are keen to finally see from the start in a Championship game. This tears up what we know about Bielsa’s United.
Stuart Dallas moves into a double pivot with Kalvin Phillips to protect the backline and add some steel, while Alioski in from the bench to left-back.
It does mean Mateusz Klich and Pablo Hernandez’s attacking threats are sacrificed in order to unleash Nketiah in a two-man attack with Bamford.
Hernandez looked leggy on Tuesday night, while Helder Costa is playing his best football in a United shirt.
Three at the back
The alternative formation Bielsa is most likely to use. Bring Alioski in for Klich, which seems the least likely decision Bielsa would ever make.
As ever, this formation overloads the opposition down the flanks. It gives you Luke Ayling, Dallas, Alioski, Costa and Jack Harrison in the same side.
Now pick your own here
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