Leeds United take on Fulham on Saturday and ahead of Daniel Farke’s press conference on Thursday, we take a look at the changes the German gaffer could make to his Leeds side.
It has been a solid start back to life in the Premier League for Leeds. Early summer reports of potentially replacing Farke have faded away, and Farke has already shown that with a budget, he can be competitive.
That is even with only a handful of his 10 summer signings actually having an impact. We are yet to see how Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, James Justin, Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin cope at Leeds.
Having notched four points from the opening three games, which has included two Champions League sides, Leeds can be happy with their work. But nothing has been done yet, with Fulham up next.
Noah Okafor of Leeds United warms up
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Predicted Leeds XI to take on Fulham as five changes made
With only five Leeds players on international duty during the break – Ilia Gruev, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol, Karl Darlow and Dan James – Farke will have had the chance to work with most of his players.
Crucial, given some of them joined late on like Okafor and Justin. Calvert-Lewin will have had time to get back to full fitness after an entire summer without a pre-season, and Ethan Ampadu could be fit again.
Ethan Ampadu in action for Leeds against Everton.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
After his injury against Everton, Ampadu was believed to be out until after the September break. But Farke did say that Ampadu has the ability to shake off injury quicker than others, and it might be optimistic.
Below, is LeedsUnited.News‘ predicted XI to face Fulham, ahead of Farke’s injury updates on Thursday:
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Explaining the five changes with Farke forced into Darlow start
Karl Darlow is set to come into the starting line-up, after reports of Lucas Perri picking up an injury. Darlow starred during Wales’ win over Kazakhstan, and will have put his Hillsborough outing behind him.
In defence, it is about time we saw Jaka Bijol – the man who was signed to partner Joe Rodon. Leeds have kept two clean sheets but offered no threat from set-pieces going forward and Bijol improves that.
Ampadu is expected back and even if he is only 80% fit, he needs to start. He would replace Ilia Gruev, with reports coming out of Bulgaria that Gruev picked up a knock during a 3-0 hammering by Spain.
Jaka Bijol passes the ball for Leeds United vs Man United.
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In attack, a reshuffle. If Calvert-Lewin has regained fitness during the break and is ready to go, he simply has to start. In the two substitute appearances he has made, he has shown more threat than anyone.
Farke has to bite the bullet and bring Calvert-Lewin in. Out wide, Dan James struggled for Wales again and surely, after recovering from a knock, Okafor needs to start. It would see Willy Gnonto on the right.
Five in: Jaka Bijol, Karl Darlow, Ethan Ampadu, Noah Okafor, Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Five out: Lucas Perri, Pascal Struijk, Ilia Gruev, Dan James, Lukas Nmecha.