Leeds United go up against Southampton in the Championship play-off final later and Michael Bridges has backed one Whites player to “relish” the occasion on Sunday afternoon.
It comes down to this season-defining game in which the winner will be promoted to the Premier League alongside Leicester and Ipswich, with Southampton and Leeds both after an instant return to the top tier.
The Whites finished three points above Southampton in third place but Russell Martin’s side beat Leeds both home and away during the regular season. Leeds are without Patrick Bamford, due to a knee issue.
Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas remain injured, while Sam Byram is a doubt after sitting out the second leg against Norwich. Leeds are slight favourites going into the match given their third-placed league finish.
One player that is surely set to start is Archie Gray after his masterclass from right-back against Norwich and former Leeds striker Bridges is confident the teenager will relish the occasion at Wembley today.
Michael Bridges backs Archie Gray to shine at Wembley
Branding the talent as “versatile”, Bridges highlighted Gray’s performance in the 3-2 FA Cup defeat to Chelsea earlier in the season. Gray won the man of the match award as Leeds came close to an upset.
He played in midfield that night, against a midfield worth more than £200m in Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo but came out on top. Bridges thinks he will deal with the emotion of the Wembley stage.
“He’ll be so excited, it’s his team, his DNA is in this football club. He will be so excited, so emotional about it. Energy through the roof. What I think he has got in his advantage is games at the high end,” he said.
“Chelsea, going away with man of the match against Enzo, Caicedo, that says to me he is special. He’s got everything and we’ve got to make sure we nurture that. He’s so versatile, he is going to relish this.”
The three positions Gray could play in against Southampton
A modern-day Dallas, Gray has been used in three roles this term. His natural position of central midfield, sitting as the more-advanced of two in Daniel Farke’s 4-2-3-1 system, but Glen Kamara is likely to start.
He could get the chance to play as a 10, like he did against Norwich away from home as Leeds produced a defensive, solid outing. Having that energy as the 10 helped Leeds nullify Norwich at Carrow Road.
But the chances are, Gray will continue in his role at right-back ahead of Connor Roberts. Little surprise given his efforts against Norwich, and that Roberts is yet to start since returning from injury.
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