Leeds v Burton preview
Friday 8 September 2017 15:35, UK
Leeds' latest signings Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Pawel Cibicki are both hoping to be included in the squad for the home Sky Bet Championship game against Burton.
Lasogga's partner is expecting their first child, but the on-loan Hamburg striker is hoping to make his debut, as is winger Cibicki, who joined from Malmo for an undisclosed fee.
Head coach Thomas Christiansen has no new injury problems, but on-loan Everton defender Matthew Pennington (ankle), striker Caleb Ekuban (foot) and Gaetano Berardi (shoulder) remain sidelined. Berardi has returned to training but is not match-fit, while midfielder Eunan O'Kane has recovered from the groin strain which forced his withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland squad.
Burton defender Stephen Warnock could recover from injury in time to face his former club.vThe left-back, a Leeds player for two years between 2013 and 2015, damaged ankle ligaments at Hull on August 12 and has not featured since but Albion boss Nigel Clough is hopeful he will be back in contention on Saturday.
Hope Akpan is available again after a three-match ban but the midfielder is now nursing an injury, as is striker Luke Varney (hamstring), while Luke Murphy is ineligible because he is on loan from Leeds. Jackson Irvine left the club during the transfer window but fellow midfielder Matty Lund (ankle) is fit again and right-back John Brayford is back at the club after Burton re-signed him on a permanent deal on transfer deadline day.
Opta stats
This is just the third league meeting between the teams - both sides won a game each last season, with Leeds winning 2-0 at Elland Road in October.
Nigel Clough has won seven of his eight managerial encounters with Leeds, with his only blemish in that time Burton's 2-0 loss last October.
Leeds could become only the sixth team in Football League history to draw their opening three home league games of a season 0-0 and the first since Burnley in 1997/98, who were then managed by Chris Waddle.
Burton have kept just five clean sheets in their last 35 league games, though four of those shutouts have been in away fixtures.
Samuel Saiz has been directly involved in six goals in all competitions this season; a joint-high among Championship players, along with Bristol City's Bobby Reid.
The Brewers have had fewer shots on target than any other side in the Championship this season (12), scoring just four goals from their opening five league games.
Prutton's prediction
Leeds are riding the crest of a wave, going into the break after a great win at Nottingham Forest. They've been expansive and exciting and on paper this is a home win for me - despite the fact both of their games at home so far have been goalless draws.
Burton looked in a bit of trouble after three games but have had some good results and Nigel Clough continues to do a great job. I can't see them leaving Elland Road with a result though.
Prutton predicts: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
