Crystal Palace boss makes Leeds United team news declaration ahead of 48-hour turn around
Leeds United should not expect any player who starts for Crystal Palace in Europe this week to start when the two teams meet at Elland Road on Saturday.
Oliver Glasner has doubled down on his recent vow to make 11 changes for Saturday night's Premier League clash, after Thursday's Europa Conference League tie with KuPs. The Finnish side travel to Selhurst Park just 48 hours before the Whites host Palace in league competition.
Glasner's Thursday night team will hold plenty of clues as to who Leeds can expect to come up against on Saturday. "I mentioned it a couple of weeks ago: no player will start against both KuPs and Leeds," he said this week. "I and we all feel responsible for the players' welfare. I just spoke to Will [Hughes], and he experienced it a few years ago – playing on Boxing Day and 28th [December], but I just think now the intensity of the game has increased."
While this will be Leeds United's 18th game of the season, the Elland Road clash will be matchday 28 for Palace and Glasner says he cannot be irresponsible with his players - particularly in light of the fixture congestion that lies ahead.
"Maybe you can do it once, but it’s our 27th game now, and we have to think further, because we play on the 18th, 20th, 23rd and 28th [December], and 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th January – so it’s irresponsible if we do this. We will start with two completely different teams, but of course, the minutes will be shared a little bit if we can."
Leeds will be hoping to have Lukas Nmecha back fit and available for the weekend. The striker has missed the last two games through a calf problem.