Leeds News

Rival boss sets expectations and hands Leeds huge boost ahead of pivotal Championship test

|

As much as we hope to avoid the Play-Offs, we may have to face Aston Villa again after this weekend if results go a certain way.

We will not, however, have to face in-form Tammy Abraham when the Villa Park natives travel to Elland Road on Sunday, as Dean Smith has stated the 21-year-old will not be fit in time.

The Villans’ boss, in quotes reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, has also laid out what he expects our upcoming Championship showdown to look like, and if it goes the way the 48-year-old expects, no Whites supporter is in for a comfortable afternoon.

“It’ll be a very tactical game, I’ve played them a couple of times this season,” Smith said.

“They’re going for the automatic positions at the moment, so they’ll be going hell for leather, but we have to too because we want to maintain this run that we’re on, to continue it as best we can. It’s going to be a tough game, but we’ll have a couple of days off and then build up for that game.”

“He’s had a scan on his shoulder and it’s nothing major” Smith added, when asked for an update on Abraham.

“The Leeds game will come too early, but we’re hoping he will be back for Norwich [on May 5].”

While we should not be relying on other sides missing their key players, it is a good thing Abraham will miss our clash with Villa on Sunday, as the Chelsea-owned forward had scored four in his last five matches to bring his tally for the term to 25.

The Villans also wasted 18 shots against Millwall on Monday in their most recent game without the 21-year-old, with Anwar El Ghazi enjoying the most efforts on David Martin’s goal with seven.

El Ghazi will certainly need to be taken account for this weekend should he feature at Elland Road, as the 23-year-old Dutchman has assisted three goals in his last six games – including teeing Conor Hourihane up for the winner against Bristol City.

Share this article