Fellow promoted side Burnley await for Leeds United this weekend, and Daniel Farke is juggling late selection decisions ahead of kick-off.
Leeds’ first seven games had a recurring theme: looking very competitive in all but one game and warranting more points and praise than we’re currently getting.
Despite that, we emerge from this international break now needing to get points on the board in a string of potentially crucial fixtures.
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Burnley v Leeds United: Team news confirmed
Daniel Farke’s team selection is unlikely to be changed that much by injury updates from his press conference on Thursday.
Daniel Farke delivered important team news ahead of Leeds United’s trip to Burnley. (REUTERS/Isabel Infantes)
Lucas Perri has recovered from his quad issue but needs more time to get back to full speed. Meanwhile, Willy Gnonto has also shaken off calf trouble, only to undergo a minor procedure on a hernia.
As for Dan James, he miraculously could be miles ahead of schedule and named in the squad for Saturday despite being ruled out for four-to-six weeks earlier in the month.
Here, I predict the lineup I’m expecting Farke to name against Burnley this weekend…
Goalkeeper: Karl Darlow
It’s fairly obvious that Karl Darlow is going to keep his place in the lineup this weekend. That’s because Perri was confirmed not to be starting.
Karl Darlow is set to keep his place for Leeds United. (REUTERS/Scott Heppell)
Farke still has the Brazilian as his undisputed first choice, but the fact he’s not played since August means he won’t be thrown back into the deep end until he’s 100% ready.
On Darlow, he had a rough international break. Shipping seven to England and Belgium won’t have done his confidence any good, but there’s little he could do about many of them.
His form in a Leeds shirt has been exemplary, though, and deserves backing obviously.
Defence: Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, Gabriel Gudmundsson
I’ve been banging the drum on Jaka Bijol this international break. I think there’ll come a time very soon where he comes into the side and makes it his own.
However, if you listened to Farke’s presser, you’ll have noted his attention on the load for players returning from internationals.
He’s forced to select his lineup as late as possible to see how those internationals reintegrate. His concern probably means he’s not going to risk throwing Bijol in for his first Premier League minutes in a must-win game, as much as he’d probably fare alright.
Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon are set to stay put at centre-back for Leeds United. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers)
That means Pascal Struijk’s position may be safe for now, and he’s got a good opportunity to prove that two deflected Spurs goals are behind him and he’s not ready to relinquish his starting berth. Joe Rodon, fresh from a towering Wales goal, obviously keeps his place too.
At full-back, Leeds are going to need Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson’s drive to force through what is sure to be a stubborn Burnley block.
Midfield: Sean Longstaff, Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach
It’s sure to be an unchanged midfield on the same logic as Bijol. Tanaka featuring on the other side of the world for Japan means he might not be at 100%, where a starting spot is concerned.
That means Sean Longstaff, rightly so, keeps his place on the right side of a midfield three. Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach will remain in their places too.
Leeds’ energetic and aggressive midfield will look to hurt Burnley at Turf Moor. (Action Images via Reuters/John Clifton)
In an ideal world, Leeds have someone like Tanaka in the midfield to pick holes in the home side’s structure, but it’s not as though the current midfield three have performed poorly enough to consider being axed.
Stach’s ability to create chances is rightly being recognised in the stats, and this is the sort of game where we need him getting as close to the front three as possible to really hurt Burnley. Pressing high, moving the ball quickly, and getting shots off has been a staple of Stach’s game so far for United and hopefully it continues.
Attack: Brenden Aaronson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Noah Okafor
Brenden Aaronson finds himself in an interesting position. He’s grafted his socks off as usual, but there’s little in the final third to suggest he’d keep his place in a full-strength side.
However, Gnonto being out and James not being fit yet means he probably starts again.
He’s got a point to prove. Leeds fans and Farke appreciate his hard work and tenacity. That said, we need to see consistent output from someone who routinely gets into good positions in the final third.
The other two positions also should remain unchanged (like the whole XI). That means Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor stay up front and on the left respectively.
Noah Okafor will be looking to add to his two goals so far. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers)
Simply put, if Leeds want to win this game and ultimately stay up, we need these two firing. Okafor looks in fine fettle. Also, Calvert-Lewin remains an overwhelming net-positive despite his inability to finish as well as he does literally everything else.
Enough crosses into the box for Calvert-Lewin and we’ll see him burst the net. Enough 1v1s out wide and we’ll see Okafor tie his marker in knots. It’s simple really.
Full Leeds United predicted XI v Burnley
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