Warnock to shuffle squad against Chelsea

16 December 2012 04:24

Leeds United are likely to rotate their squad for the League Cup clash against Chelsea, manager Neil Warnock has said.

The west Yorkshire outfit prepared for the quarter-final by overcoming Ipswich Town 2-0 in the Championship on Saturday, courtesy of goals from Jerome Thomas and Paul Green.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will come into the game off the back of a Club World Club final with Corinthians, to be played Sunday in Japan.

Warnock acknowledged that the opposition were likely to rest a portion of their squad, and laid out plans to do the same ahead of a clash with promotion rivals Middlesbrough next weekend.

"I won't play my full team and I am sure Chelsea won't, but they have more players they can rest than we have," Warnock told reporters.

"I am sure it will be competitive, whatever team I put out."

Warnock is taking particular care over on-loan West Brom winger Thomas as, despite a man-of-the-match performance against Ipswich, he remains short of match fitness and will likely be rested against Chelsea.

"I am still trying to get Jerome fit enough to play a full 90 minutes. We have to treat him with kid gloves," he said.

"It is more important to me that he plays against Middlesbrough next Saturday than Chelsea on Wednesday, so we will have to see. Knowing Jerome, he will want to play against Chelsea."