' NINE SUBSTITUTES ALLOWED '
The likely Cardiff City XI to face Leeds United and what the team looked like before football stopped
We might see some of the academy products occupy roles on the bench, given City are now allowed to name nine substitutes.
The team Neil Harris picks to play against Leeds United this weekend will likely have some changes from the last match they played.
By Glen Williams
Monday 15th June 2020
We are likely to see changes from the Cardiff City team who last played, away at Barnsley back in March
The nation is abuzz ahead of of football's imminent return.
Cardiff City are finally back in action against Leeds United this weekend and, although it will look very different, it is fair to say supporters are gripped with excitement.
The Bluebirds' last match against Barnsley, an impressive 2-0 away win, seems a lifetime ago, but the excitement among City fans is beginning to reach fever pitch.
There will be no greater yardstick for Neil Harris and his men than coming up against Leeds this weekend, given Marcelo Bielsa's side have been far and away the best in the division this season, save a mid-season blip after relinquishing a three-goal lead to the Bluebirds before Christmas.
But, thankfully for Harris, it appears he will be afforded the luxury of being able to choose his strongest team, which they will certainly need if they are to kick-start this nine-game run-in with a precious victory.
Jazz Richards, Greg Cunningham and Isaac Vassell will all miss the fixture through injury, although it can be said that none of those three would have forced their way into the first-choice starting XI anyway.
The big news is that Lee Tomlin and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing are both back in contention and that is a huge bonus for Harris heading into this huge encounter.
Neither were available before football stopped and, in Tomlin's case in particular, results dipped without the key men leading the attack.
In Tomlin's absence, Harris had to compensate by employing a flat midfield three, up at Barnsley that was a combination of Leandro Bacuna, Joe Ralls and Will Vaulks.
But given the playmaker has been City's best player this season, if he is anywhere near full fitness Harris will doubtless slot him straight back into the side.
As for Mendez-Laing, few would argue that he is in the top two wingers at the club, so the same, really, applies for him.
The wingers have arguably been City's most inconsistent players this season, however Albert Adomah has brought a consistently high standard since he was signed from Nottingham Forest on deadline day back in January, so it is unlikely he will be ousted from the side.
It could see Mendez-Laing shift over to the left-hand side, with him and Adomah flanking Tomlin in an exciting trio in behind Callum Paterson, who has earned the right to keep the shirt up front.
The same can be said, too, for Will Vaulks, who has become an integral part of this Bluebirds setup since Christmas and will doubtless take his spot in the middle of the park. Whether the Wales international sits alongside Ralls, Bacuna or Marlon Pack, however, is another debate all together.
Given it's a midfield two, it will likely be one of Bacuna or Ralls, both of whom boast dynamism and a box-to-box engine which can affect the game at both ends of the pitch. Bacuna has been an mainstay this season, though, and Harris has entrusted him with that role on many occasions, so expect him to get the nod.
The back four will be as you were, given Sean Morrison and Curtis Nelson have struck up quite the partnership at centre back and Joe Bennett and the hugely-talented Dion Sanderson are nailed on as full backs.
Alex Smithies, too, has been mightily impressive between the sticks this season and will continue to keep Neil Etheridge sidelined, no doubt.
Another added dimension moving forward, at least for the rest of the season, is that we might see some of the academy products occupy roles on the bench, given City are now allowed to name nine substitutes.
Cardiff City likely XI (4-2-3-1) : Smithies; Sanderson, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett; Vaulks, Bacuna; Adomah, Tomlin, Mendez-Laing; Paterson.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.