Leeds United manager Javi Gracia
Leeds United head coach Javi Gracia could explore the possibility of playing both Georginio Rutter and Patrick Bamford against Chelsea, Phil Hay reports.
The Lowdown: Rutter against Fulham
Record signing Rutter made his first start under Gracia against Fulham in the FA Cup on Tuesday. The 20-year-old had a goal disallowed and hit the post, as he was one of Leeds’ best performers on the night behind Marc Roca, as per SofaScore.
He made way for Bamford just after the hour mark, but it looks as if Gracia is considering playing them both from the off in the Premier League.
The Latest: Hay’s post
Hay was at Thorp Arch for Gracia’s pre-Chelsea press conference on Thursday, where he was asked about the decision about Bamford or Rutter as a centre-forward.
He said ‘it’s a real option to play with two options up front’, with Joe Donnohue saying that Gracia was ‘sufficiently impressed’ by Rutter on Tuesday.
The Verdict: Something different
Leeds have only played with two up front on one occasion in the Premier League this season against West Ham back in January, as per Transfermarkt.
The Frenchman wasn’t a Leeds player at that time, so playing both Bamford and Rutter at Stamford Bridge would be interesting.
The Whites have been defensively sound under the Spaniard so far and haven’t given their opponents a ‘big chance‘ in his opening two games, so you could say that playing two up front may impact those defensive improvements, and it’ll be one to watch heading into this afternoon’s trip to Stamford Bridge.
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