Archie Gray has named his ultimate Leeds United five-a-side team from his current set of teammates at Elland Road.
With the Championship play-off final against Southampton on Sunday, this side could effectively be playing their last ever game together at Wembley.
If Leeds were to lose, there is no doubt the vultures from the division above would begin to circle on the Whites’ key players, a category of which Gray certainly falls into.
49ers Enterprises have already acknowledged that key players would have to be sold in order to comply with the EFL’s stringent PSR rules, and so Leeds will be desperate to avoid that having to happen.
Irrespective of the outcome, though, Sunday will represent the final game in a Leeds shirt for many, including captain Liam Cooper, whose 10-year spell at the club looks set to come to an end.
Elsewhere, Burnley have confirmed Connor Roberts will be returning after his loan spell, with Jaidon Anthony also set to go back to Bournemouth. Sam Byram and Jamie Shackleton are out of contract.
Gray names Georginio Rutter in his ultimate Leeds five-a-side team
Based on the season many players have had at Leeds, it is hard to narrow down the current squad into a five-a-side team.
Leeds had the second best defensive record in the division during the regular campaign and on paper, have arguably the most impressive set of attacking options.
Gray was tasked with doing so in an interview alongside Georginio Rutter for Leeds’ YouTube channel, of which the two players were the ones asking each other questions.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Gray named both himself and Rutter in the side, as well as the Championship’s Player of the Season Crysencio Summerville.
The 18-year-old decided to go without a goalkeeper and chose Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon as his two defenders instead.
He said: “Joe, me, you, Cry and I would probably say Ethan as well.”
Glen Kamara a surprise omission from Leeds five-a-side squad
Though it is hard to disagree with Gray’s selection, there are certainly some notable omissions, none more so than Glen Kamara.
Kamara has been nicknamed as ‘snake hips’ by Ampadu in the dressing room this season due to his ability to squeeze out of tight spaces on the pitch.
That particular trait, as well as his ball retention, are the ideal attributes needed to be a successful five-a-side player.
The £5 million summer signing from Rangers won’t be too disheartened, though, as he prepares for the upcoming play-off final.
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