Saturday’s briefing: Leeds march on and Amorim ready to put faith in youth

Leeds moved a step closer to a return to the Premier League after a 1-0 win at Oxford.

Ruben Amorim is ready to use his Manchester United youngsters with their Premier League season already in tatters.

Kai Havertz is making a quicker-than-expected return from injury and could boost Arsenal’s Champions League quest.

Leeds marching on

Leeds climbed back to the top of the Championship, and crucially stayed five points ahead of third-placed Sheffield United with three games to go, after Manor Solomon’s goal sank Oxford.

Solomon struck in the 33rd minute when he put away Jayden Bogle’s low cross at the far post.

Burnley had kept up their challenge earlier in the day – and moved briefly to the summit – with a 2-1 win at Watford, while the Blades beat Cardiff 2-0.

Amorim to put faith in youth

Amorim is poised to turn to United’s kids as their quest for Europa League glory takes precedence over Premier League matters.

Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Newcastle left them 14th and guaranteed that this would be the Red Devils’ worst campaign of the Premier League era.

But the Europa League offers a chance to salvage their season, with Thursday’s dramatic quarter-final win against Lyon setting up a semi-final date against Athletic Bilbao.

It has long been Bilbao or bust for the Red Devils given the final is also being held there, with that hunt for silverware and Champions League qualification meaning rotation is needed against Wolves this Sunday and beyond.

“The guys that are at risk to have an injury, we will try to save them. We will see,” said Amorim.

“It’s not the best moment or the best season to put some kids to play because again they need a strong base to really show what they can do, but in this moment we need to do it and sometimes you have surprises.”

Havertz boost for Gunners

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed the surprise news that striker Havertz is on course to make his comeback “earlier than expected”.

The Germany international was expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn hamstring in February.

But Arteta says Havertz – who is still the club’s top scorer with 15 goals this season – could be available if Arsenal see off Paris St Germain to reach the Champions League final in Munich on June 1.

Asked if Havertz has an outside chance to play in the semi-finals – first, at the Emirates on April 30, and then in Paris eight days later – Arteta said: “For the semi-finals? I think that is too close.

“But if I have to bet on him earlier than expected I would say, ‘Yes’.

“The way he works, every day he is in the gym, pushing everybody, and I don’t think you can hold him back any longer.”

Alexander-Arnold situation unclear

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has offered no insight into whether Trent Alexander-Arnold’s long-term future remained at the club.

The England right-back is out of contract in the summer and has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.

In the last week Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, who were also due to become free agents in June, have signed new two-year contracts but the position of Alexander-Arnold is less clear.

Slot said: “It’s nice that we have done two announcements and I can talk for that for hours.

“But if you want to talk for hours about Trent, it is the same answer: we don’t talk about these things that aren’t done yet and they aren’t and that’s why we don’t talk in public about the situation.”

What’s on today?

It is another big day for Arsenal as the women’s team face eight-time winners Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

In the Premier League, the race for Europe takes precedence with Aston Villa hosting Newcastle, Manchester City heading to Everton, Brighton travelling to Brentford and Crystal Palace entertaining Bournemouth.

North of the border, Hearts meet Aberdeen in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.