They combined Leeds United and Southampton XIs ahead of Sunday’s Championship play-off final

Leeds go into the clash with Willy Gnonto and Connor Roberts in form, but Patrick Bamford remains a doubt. For Southampton, manager Martin is confident that both Che Adams and Ross Stewart will be available.

Below is our combined XI of both sides:

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Alex McCarthy, once on loan at Leeds, will be in goal on Sunday, but Gavin Bazunu is Southampton’s No.1 this season. However, his stats are nothing compared to Meslier’s this term.

Bazunu kept just 11 clean sheets in 41 league games, while Meslier won the Golden Glove with 19 clean sheets in the regular season and then two more in the play-offs with a clean sheet against Norwich.

Defense

Leeds have cut and changed at right-back this season, with Archie Gray, Luke Ayling, Sam Byram and Connor Roberts used there. But Kyle Walker-Peters played on the right for Southampton.

Alongside him in defense is another Southampton player in Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who Leeds actually tried to sign last summer. He helped Leeds keep 14 clean sheets in 45 games in all competitions.

He even scored twice. Joe Rodon has been one of Leeds’ best players this season and is on his way, while Junior Firpo’s January form on the left earns him a place ahead of Ryan Manning, also linked with Leeds.

Middle

Lots of options here, Southampton with impressive talents like Will Smallbone and Joe Aribo. But Saints’ pick here is the ever-reliable “brilliant” summer signing Flynn Downes.

Glen Kamara was good for Leeds without ever being incredible, while Ilia Gruev only came to the fore in the second half of the season, but Ethan Ampadu led the way for The Whites.

He may now play in defense but Ampadu was arguably the best permanent signing of the season, never missing a minute of action and now wearing the armband for Daniel Farke’s side.

Attack

The No.10 role has several contenders, with Aribo and Smallbone also falling into that category, while Scotland star Stuart Armstrong has impressed, but Georginio Rutter is a game-changer at this level.

He gets the 10, while Player of the Season in Crysencio Summerville is an easy choice on the left side. David Brooks is a top player, while Leeds also have Dan James on the right.

But Willy Gnonto reminded why he is an Italy international with the assist in the 4-0 win against Norwich and is the best option on the right. Up top, Leeds have struggled to get it right this season.

Joel Piroe has been up and down, while Patrick Bamford – struggling to be fit for Sunday – has played his part in the second half of the season. But Adam Armstrong was sensational for Martin’s Saints.

He has had more goals than Summerville with 23 goals and 13 assists and is Southampton’s forward choice over Che Adams and Stewart. So Armstrong gets the nod as #9

Combined XI: Illan Meslier; Kyle Walker-Peters, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Joe Rodon, Junior Firpo; Flynn Downes, Ethan Ampadu; Willy Gnonto, Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville; Adam Armstrong.

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