Leeds United will look to continue their impressive run of form when they host Aston Villa at Elland Road on Saturday evening.
The Whites were lying in the relegation zone following a 1-0 home defeat by Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town at the start of September, but they have since embarked on a sequence of results that has seen them leap up to fifth in the Championship table, with their eyes firmly set on promotion.
Garry Monk’s men have won four of their last five league fixtures including last weekend’s 2-1 success away at another of their Yorkshire rivals, Rotherham United.
Their only defeat came against the current leaders Newcastle United, and Leeds will be looking to avoid a successive home loss to a side that was relegated from the Premier League last season when Aston Villa come to town on Saturday.
Here is Football FanCast’s Leeds United XI that can continue their march up the standings vs Villa…
GK: Rob Green
The experienced stopper was guilty of making a huge error in that home defeat to Newcastle when he dropped Jack Colback’s looping effort from near the halfway line straight to Dwight Gayle, who finished well.
However, he has also saved his side on a number of occasions this term and Monk should keep faith with the former England international for the victory over Rotherham, although Marco Silvestri was preferred between the sticks for the EFL Cup loss to Liverpool on Tuesday.
RB: Luke Ayling
Ever since his summer move from Bristol City, Ayling has established himself as the club’s first choice right-back under the leadership of Garry Monk, impressing supporters with his all-action displays.
As well as being defensively sound, the 25-year-old also offers a good attacking outlet on the right-hand side for United and he will be looking to provide some ammunition for in-form striker Chris Wood when Villa visit on Saturday.
CB: Kyle Bartley
The former Arsenal defender moved to Leeds in the summer on a season-long loan deal from Swansea City, and United manager Monk will surely already be looking at making it a permanent deal next year.
The centre-back has impressed in defence and formed a strong partnership with Pontus Jansson – who is also on-loan at Elland Road. They will need to be on top form when they come up against the likes of Jonathan Kodjia, Ross McCormack and Rudy Gestede on Saturday.
CB: Pontus Jansson
As we mentioned previously, Jansson – who is on loan at Leeds from Torino – has struck up a dominant centre-half partnership with Bartley and their relationship at the back has been a huge factor in the club becoming promotion contenders in the last couple of months.
The Swede missed the win at Rotherham because of suspension, while he was also absent for the cup tie against Liverpool because of illness, but he is expected to be fit for Saturday.
LB: Charlie Taylor
The 23-year-old is one of Leeds’ most highly-rated players and he has long been linked with a move to the Premier League – most recently with West Bromwich Albion.
The left-sided defender has rejected a new deal with the Whites and as it stands, he can leave Elland Road on a free transfer at the end of the season.
However, he will surely want to help the club to promotion before he departs and a strong performance against Villa would go a long way to achieving that aim.
CM: Kalvin Phillips
Whereas Charlie Taylor is an established player in the Leeds side, Phillips has been something of a breakthrough star in midfield this season and he has made a big impact alongside the likes of Eunan O’Kane and Ronaldo Vieira in the engine room.
The 20-year-old’s impressive form saw him named as the Championship Young Player of the Month for October, and he will be looking to continue that level of performance on Saturday evening.
CM: Eunan O’Kane
The Republic of Ireland international has been the more experienced partner for Kalvin Phillips in the middle of the park, quickly becoming a key player under the leadership of Monk.
The 26-year-old was taken off against Liverpool in midweek because of a groin problem, but he is expected to be fit enough to start for the visit of Aston Villa, where he could come up against a real talent in the prodigious Jack Grealish.
RAM: Hadi Sacko
With Pablo Hernandez still missing because of a hamstring injury, the on-loan Sporting Lisbon attacking midfielder should once again be given the chance to impress his manager when Villa visit Elland Road.
The right-sided player has picked up three assists in the Championship this season and he will be looking to keep up that creative record for top goalscorer Chris Wood.
CAM: Kemar Roofe
A few eyebrows may have been raised when Leeds bought Roofe for £3m from Oxford United during the summer, but the attacking midfielder has put in a number of fine performances and was named as the man of the match in the defeat to Liverpool in midweek.
However, there is one monkey that he is still looking to get off his back. He is yet to score a goal for United in his 22 appearances – which comes as a surprise after he was so prolific for the U’s.
LAM: Souleymane Doukara
There have been a lot of up-and-downs for Doukara in his Leeds career so far, but he finally seems to be making a real positive impact on this Whites side.
The 25-year-old scored the winning goal in the Yorkshire derby against Rotherham last weekend and he will look to continue to provide that goal threat – as well as taking some of the pressure off of top marksman Chris Wood – at Elland Road on Saturday.
ST: Chris Wood
The New Zealand international is Leeds’ top scorer this season with 12 goals in all competitions and he will look to continue that prolific run of form when Villa visit on Saturday.
Wood netted the opener in the 2-1 win at Rotherham last weekend and the 24-year-old will be looking to maintain his fine record at home this term – he has bagged an impressive six goals in his last eight appearances at Elland Road.