Leeds United are on the brink of their long-awaited Premier League return and one well-respected journalist has dared to predict how they will achieve it.
The Whites are currently top of the Championship, one point clear of West Bromwich Albion in second place, and have plenty of breathing space between themselves and Fulham in the Playoff places.
Of course, this position they find themselves in does not guarantee the North Yorkshire side will do it, despite the fact that former Premier League and England striker Darren Bent believing that Leeds have it “in the bag”.
Responding to Chris Kirk’s study on Twitter, The Athletic’s Phil Hay predicts how many points Marcelo Bielsa’s side will need to get that all-important promotion that the club has been striving for.
Take a look at this if you dare. 85 points, I reckon. Anyone with 85 points is there https://t.co/5UEKnE80hB
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) June 16, 2020
So Hay thinks that the number in lights is 85. Leeds are currently on 71 points, which would mean that five victories from their final nine games would be enough to achieve promotion to the Premier League for the first time since they were relegated in 2004.
Will Leeds be promoted?
Yes
No
Football is a funny old game, isn’t it? Situations can quickly change if the eyes are taken away from the prize. Bielsa has the experience and the ability to keep his players grounded, and his players will all know what needs to be done.
Without jinxing it, Hay is probably right. This points tally would be difficult for two or more teams to match.