Leeds really need to establish themselves as Premier League regulars, starting this season.
Three consecutive Premier League campaigns from 2020 to 2023 offered hope of Leeds finally ending their turbulent relationship with the Championship, but a narrow relegation under Sam Allardyce evoked the horrid feelings of 2004 and meant the Whites had to start again.
11 points from ten games so far this season has offered hope that Daniel Farke can achieve survival, and Gary McAllister has now highlighted the four players he thinks will be vital if Leeds are to stay up.
Gary McAllister says Leeds United’s midfield department is “solid” and key to survival
Speaking to Leeds Live, the 60-year-old named Sean Longstaff, Anton Stach, Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka as significant figures at Elland Road.
McAllister said: “You’ve got Ampadu and Tanaka (along with Longstaff and Stach). I know Daniel likes to play a three there, you know, like a flat three and allowing the couple to go, but I think if you’ve picked any of those three from that four… we’re solid in the middle of the park.
“If we’re going to do well and we’re gonna stay in this division, I think the protection that they give and the fact that they can get themselves forward and nick a couple of goals – I think that they’d go a long way to keep Leeds in the top flight. They’re well served in there.”
Gary McAllister working for TNT Sports
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Daniel Farke has a very tough call to make at Leeds United
Stach recently broke a rib – with Farke consequently resting him as Ampadu, Tanaka and Longstaff started against West Ham and Brighton.
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However, the £17.4m Germany international is now fit to start once again, leaving the Leeds boss with a difficult decision over which of the quartet to drop on Sunday against Nottingham Forest.
Farke would be wise to use his options on a game-by-game basis in our opinion.
For instance, Stach is a physical powerhouse who stands at 6ft 4in – but one also adept at reading the game and impressing with his technical ability too.
He may therefore be better suited to face Nottingham Forest than a player like Tanaka, as Sean Dyche has a physical midfield consisting of Elliot Anderson, Douglas Luiz and Morgan Gibbs-White.
Whoever Farke chooses to start, it is a nice headache for him to have.