Leeds United handed big boost ahead of Crystal Palace clash | OneFootball

Leeds United have been handed a big boost ahead of tonight’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at Elland Road…

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It has been revealed that the Eagles will be travelling to Yorkshire without one of their key stars after his missed his first game of the season at the weekend.

Denmark international Joachim Andersen was absent during their defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon and manager Patrick Vieira has since confirmed that he will not be involved against the Whites this evening.

“He’s not going to travel, he is not 100%,” the Frenchman told reporters (via football.london).

“We don’t know. We have to evaluate the injuries every day and see how he’s feeling. But for the game tomorrow it will be too short.”

Who should Bielsa start upfront vs Palace?

Huge boost

This will come as a massive boost to the struggling Yorkshiremen as not only are they in desperate need of a win but they have been futile in front of goal in the absence of Patrick Bamford.

With just two wins from their opening 13 games this campaign, Leeds sit one place and three points above the relegation zone and with fixtures coming thick and fast this festive period, they could well be embroiled in a dogfight at the foot of the table come to the new year.

Only three other teams have found the net fewer times than United (12) and that’s hardly a surprise given the 28-year-old, who bagged 17 goals last term, has missed each of their last eight league outings.

Without Andersen, Palace’s backline is a much weaker prospect and that has to be a major source of encouragement for Marcelo Bielsa’s frontline, so the Argentine will surely be grinning from his office ahead of kick-off at Elland Road.

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Indeed, the 25-year-old centre-back had featured in every single match until his absence at Villa Park. He has been a vital part of their form this season, too, having averaged a joint-high of 1.5 interceptions per game and makes more long balls (6.3 per game) than any other player, via WhoScored.

“He is massively important. Joachim played in France, he played in Italy, he was in the Premier League last year. He has this experience of moving around and going to a new club,” claimed Vieira earlier in the season (via football.london).

“When you want to have possession and you have a centre-back who is really comfortable having the ball at his feet it’s quite important.”