---
title: "Leeds: Phil Hay discusses James Ward-Prowse suspension"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-phil-hay-discusses-james-ward-prowse-suspension/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2021-10-03T19:35:47Z"
modified: "2021-10-03T19:35:47Z"
---

# Leeds: Phil Hay discusses James Ward-Prowse suspension

**James Ward-Prowse won’t see his red card appeal overturned ahead of Southampton’s clash with Leeds United on 16 October, according to journalist Phil Hay.**

### The Lowdown: Saints up next for Leeds

The Whites finally got their first Premier League victory of the season on Saturday, winning 1-0 at home to Watford.

The hope is that it sparks Leeds’ campaign into life and their next outing comes against the Saints at Elland Road after the international break.

\[freshpress-quiz id=“375277″\]

### The Latest: Ward-Prowse to miss out

Someone who won’t be available for that game is Ward-Prowse, with the Southampton captain [sent off](https://www.skysports.com/football/chelsea-vs-southampton/446350) in his team’s defeat at Chelsea on Saturday.

Speaking in a Q&A for [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/2861806/2021/10/01/leeds-fans-discuss-the-watford-game-with-our-reporter-phil-hay/), Hay discussed the midfielder’s suspension and believes that any potential appeal from the Saints would prove to be unsuccessful.

He said: “No, I don’t see them appealing that successfully either. Big loss for Southampton and a bonus for Leeds.”

[Latest Leeds United news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-18/)

### The Verdict: Big boost for Whites

Ward-Prowse is a hugely influential figure for Saints, achieving their highest average [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/18/Archive/England-Southampton) rating in 2020/21, so his absence for the Leeds game has to be considered a big boost for Marcelo Bielsa.

The 26-year-old brings both tenacity and quality in the middle of the park – he is also famed for his [set piece expertise](https://www.planetsport.com/soccer/features/seven-best-premier-league-free-kick-takers-cristiano-ronaldo-david-beckham-ward-prowse) – so the Whites’ midfielders can breathe a huge sigh of relief that he won’t be involved in two weeks’ time at Elland Road.

It gives Leeds an even bigger opportunity to pick up a second consecutive league win. If they can manage that, the table could start looking far more satisfying from a Whites perspective.

***In other news, Leeds could attempt to sign one player in January. Find out who it is [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-transfer-rumours/leeds-whites-could-reignite-nahitan-nandez-interest-in-january/).***