PATIENCE may finally pay off for Leeds United youngster Crysencio Summerville on Sunday (2pm).
The 20-year-old could make his full Premier League debut at Crystal Palace, if head coach Jesse Marsch opts to keep changes to his frontline to a minimum.
The Whites will be forced to make one change to their attack as Luis Sinisterra serves his one-match ban after his dismissal against Aston Villa last weekend.
Dutch Under-19s international Summerville has been on the bench in all United’s league games this season and his omission from Tuesday’s 5-3 Papa John’s Trophy victory at Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday may have been to keep him fresh.
Marsch has spoken about trying to find more senior chances for Summerville, having seen him shine for Leeds’ U21s, so starting at Selhurst Park is a possibility.
Another scenario could see Wilfried Gnonto, the 18-year-old Italian international make his first start.
He played in the thrilling win at the Wirral, which saw Joe Gelhardt, omitted from the matchday squad against Villa, score twice.
Co-striker Mateo Joseph followed his hat-trick against Stoke U21s last week with another goal and Sonny Perkins maintained his record of scoring in every game he has played for club and country this season.
When you add Darko Gyabi, Archie Gray and Cody Drameh into the mix, Leeds clearly have a lot of young talent on their hands.
However, Marsch has also been on record to state that the gap between the U21s and the first-team is a little too big, so he may opt for experience at Palace, a ground where Leeds have not won in 16 years, spanning six fixtures.
That could see United take the field with the quartet up top which they began the campaign with Patrick Bamford as the main striker, Rodrigo operating just behind, Brenden Aaronson on the right and Jack Harrison on the left.
Despite his red card at Tranmere, Sam Greenwood will be available but Gray (toe) and Stuart Dallas (leg fracture) are definitely out.
There will be will be checks on Adam Forshaw (twisted ankle) and defender Leo Hjedle (stomach bug) after the pair missed squad inclusion for the Villa game.
Leeds have picked up just one point of their travels this season, drawing at Southampton after holding a 2-0 lead. That was followed by a 1-0 loss at Brighton and a 5-2 thumping at Brentford.
Marsch was red carded at Brentford and ironically his first game back on the touchline will see him go head-to-head with Palace chief Patrick Vieira against whom he was locked in some heated derby tussles in Major League Soccer.
As manager of New York City, Vieira was dismissed against Marsch’s New York Red Bulls.
Palace have picked up some injuries in recent weeks and will definitely be without Nathaniel Clyne and Joachim Anderson in defence. They have lost their last two home games against Chelsea and Arsenal but will join Leeds on nine points if they beat the Whites on Sunday.
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