Preview | Leeds United v Swansea City
Swansea City return to Championship action as they take on Championship leaders Leeds United at Elland Road this afternoon (3pm).
The Swans are looking to bounce back after defeats to Watford and Burnley, which had followed an encouraging run of seven points from a possible nine under caretaker head coach Alan Sheehan.
They face a Leeds side who boast the most effective attacking in the division, and who have lost just once in the league on home turf as they target a return to the Premier League.
Team news
The Swans have all their internationals back and available following their spells away with their countries.
Harry Darling is touch and go following a hip injury, and Hannes Delcroix is available after being ineligible to face parent club Burnley.
Kristian Pedersen is sidelined as he recovers from hamstring surgery.
The home side have captain Ethan Ampadu available as the Wales international completes his recovery from a knee injury.
Pre-match views
Alan Sheehan: "They’re a top team for this league. It’s probably the toughest game of the season, and it's going to be one hell of a challenge.
"We’re expecting a difficult test. They’ve got quality all over the field, high level players for this division.
"We have to understand the challenge and bring the best version of ourselves.
"I had a good time there on loan as a player, and they are a club I wish much success to, but only after Saturday."
Daniel Farke: “I expect a difficult game because the first game after the international break is for us even a bit more complicated.
“We are quite respectful. We know it won't be the easiest task to create chances against them, to score goals against them, so we have to work for it.
“Under these circumstances it's especially a bit tricky, but we also know how important our home games are in the run-in.
“And for that, although the challenge is there and will be a difficult game, we want to find some good solutions to create chances to score goals, and then hopefully also to secure all three points.”
Meet the officials
Ben Toner is the man in the middle at Elland Road this afternoon.
You can find out more about the Lancashire referee and his team of officials below.
Remember the last time?
Swansea City fell to defeat on their last visit to Elland Road despite Jamie Paterson finding the net inside the opening minute for the visitors.
The midfielder had lobbed Illan Meslier to open the scoring with just 59 seconds on the clock in west Yorkshire as the Swans took a 1-0 lead.
Leeds would respond in short order through Joel Piroe in a frantic start to the contest.
But the Swans gave as good as they got during the opening period against a home squad stacked with players who were plying their trade in the Premier League the previous season, and could consider themselves unfortunate to trail at the interval after Georginio Rutter, who appeared to be offside, scored right on half-time.
However, Dan James extended the home side’s lead with Swansea unable to find a way back into the game despite some promising moments.
Prime numbers
2 - Swansea City have just two wins at Elland Road to their name since first visiting in 1927, with the most recent of those coming courtesy of a late Wayne Routledge winner in 2019.
4 - While their record at Elland Road may not be the best, the Swans have scored in each of their last four visits.