Ninth placed Cardiff City look to bounce back from their 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, as they host fourth placed Leeds United who are looking to maintain their promotion push.
The long term rivals opened their Championship campaign against each other back in August, with Crysencio Summerville scoring an equaliser in second half added time to rescue a point for the Whites in a 2-2 draw after the Bluebirds went in at half time two goals ahead.
The away side arrive in South Wales off the back of two 3-0 victories against Birmingham City in the league and Peterborough United in the FA Cup. Erol Bulut’s side have had mixed results in the league recently, but won their last league game 2-1 away to QPR on New Years Day.
Let’s take a look at the potential starting eleven that Erol Bulut could field tomorrow:
GK – Jak Alnwick
Alnwick appears to have cemented his place in the starting 11 at the moment, with rumours of loanee keeper Alex Runarsson going back to parent club Arsenal after a lack of game time. There is a possibility that the Bluebirds will look to sign a keeper in this transfer window, with Leicester City and Wales keeper Danny Ward a potential target. It should be the Scotsman between the sticks against Leeds however this weekend.
RB – Perry Ng
Ng has been an ever-present as part of the settled back four at Cardiff. He is likely to feature again at right back this weekend, looking to continue his fine form, and add to the goal that he scored in the 2-1 win away to QPR – his fourth of the season – that currently has him level as the clubs top scorer in the league.
CB – Dimitrios Goutas
The Greek defender has been a standout player for Cardiff this season and will be expected to maintain his place in Bulut’s squad. He also scored in the 2-1 win at Loftus Road, being the other player level with Ng as the club’s top scorer in the league.
CB – Mark McGuiness
The 23-year old Irish defender has cemented himself as the partner to Goutas in what has been a strong pairing for the Bluebirds this campaign. The two defenders have played every league game this season so far for Cardiff, and it is likely to remain the same for the visit of Leeds.
LB – Jamilu Collins
It was a surprise to many that the Nigerian left back was left out of their squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations, but may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Cardiff. With understudy Callum O’Dowda expected to be out for a further six weeks due to injury, Collins remains the only fit left back at the club, with no new arrivals in that position as of yet.
CM – Manolis Siopis
Another Greek that has been one of the standout players for Cardiff this season. It seems that the Welsh side have a good game depending on the quality of their diminutive midfielder, and they will need him to be on top form to disrupt the potent Leeds attacking threat this weekend.
CM – Joe Ralls (c)
The club captain plays an integral role to the workings of the Bluebirds midfield, and it could be argued that the injury that forced him off in the return fixture earlier this season was the turning point of the game. He will be busy alongside Siopis this weekend looking to out-battle Leeds’ Welshman Ethan Ampadu.
CM – Ryan Wintle
The final part of Cardiff’s midfield three. Wintle has started in midfield for the Bluebirds in their last four fixtures, slotting in at centre back for their trip to Hillsborough in the FA Cup last weekend. He is likely to revert back to midfield this weekend for the clash against Leeds.
RW – Josh Bowler
Bowler has returned from injury and looks to be working his way back in towards the starting 11. The Nottingham Forest loanee was the first to score in the 2-2 draw back in August and will look to get on the scoresheet again tomorrow.
LW – Rubin Colwill
The academy graduate has been in and out of the first team this season, but could have the opportunity to stake a claim for regular starts under Bulut, starting with the game against Leeds tomorrow. Many Cardiff fans would like to see the Welsh attacking midfielder be given more chances to showcase his talents, that he has done in spells throughout the campaign.
ST – Kion Etete
Etete now looks like the preferred striking option after the departure of loanee Iké Ugbo earlier this week. The Bluebirds are on the hunt for a new striker with Kieffer Moore and Umut Nayir potential targets. It is likely that former Tottenham Hotspur man will lead the attack against Leeds.
A result for either side tomorrow could prove to be vital in the run in to the end of the season. Cardiff will be looking to push themselves back in to play-off contention after a few weeks of mixed results, and a win against fellow play-off contenders would be huge.
Leeds travel to South Wales in good spirits, but know that they have to maintain their form to keep their place in the top six, with many teams fighting it out for the opportunity to reach the Premier League.
