Leeds United boss Daniel Farke and West Ham United head coach Nuno Espirito Santo are expected to make alterations to their respective starting line-ups as they aim to improve their Premier League survival hopes by clinching three points when their sides lock horns at Elland Road on Friday night.
The Whites, who are still adjusting to life back in the top flight after getting their hands on the Championship title last season, are looking to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat to fellow newly-promoted outfit Burnley and have not tasted victory on home soil since overcoming Everton on the opening day of the campaign.
West Ham are in the relegation zone and saw their season reach a fresh low point when they were condemned to a comfortable defeat by Brentford earlier this week. GIVEMESPORT has predicted who will be involved for the Hammers and Leeds when they go head-to-head in West Yorkshire.
Leeds Team News
Noah Okafor during a pre-match warm-up with Leeds United
Summer recruit Noah Okafor is in a race against time to prove his fitness to Leeds chief Farke as he is continuing his recovery from adductor issues, while Wilfried Gnonto is a serious doubt to be involved against West Ham as he is still building up his fitness after undergoing a hernia operation.
Highly-rated teenage striker Harry Gray, who was rewarded with his first professional contract earlier this week, is also recovering after a spell on the sidelines. Ethan Ampadu and Pascal Struijk have not been fully involved in training ahead of the Hammers' visit to Elland Road.
United States international Brenden Aaronson, who pockets £45,000-per-week before bonuses, is in line to be dropped to the bench and replaced by Dan James as Leeds go in search of more ammunition in the final third of the pitch.
Farke Drops Team News Update
Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke showing appreciation towards supporters
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of his Leeds side entertaining West Ham, Farke confirmed that injuries and illnesses will result in him having to make some late decisions when it comes to selecting his starting line-up. He said:
"Noah Okafor and Willy Gnonto are making some good progress in their rehab, but they were not able to complete the whole team training during this week so far.
"We will definitely take some late decisions. Obviously, Noah was not out as long as Willy. Perhaps for him, it is a bit more realistic to be involved, but we will see.
"A few players are struggling with illnesses at the moment. Also, Ethan Ampadu and Pascal Struijk missed team training today (Wednesday), so there are also question marks about their availability."
Leeds Predicted XI
Jack Harrison applauding the Leeds United supporters
Leeds Predicted XI: Darlow; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Longstaff, Ampadu, Stach; James, Calvert-Lewin, Harrison.
Leeds Predicted Substitutes: Perri (GK), Bijol (DEF), Justin (DEF), Gruev (MID), Tanaka (MID), Aaronson (FWD), Piroe (FWD), Okafor (FWD), Nmecha (FWD).
West Ham Team News
Konstantinos Mavropanos during a pre-match warm-up with West Ham United
Central defender Konstantinos Mavropanos will not be part of West Ham's matchday squad and has started undergoing tests to ascertain the severity of the injury he suffered in the defeat to Brentford earlier this week, which resulted in him being forced off despite coming on as a half-time substitute.
Niclas Fullkrug is not expected to be available until next month, having sustained a thigh problem while on international duty with Germany, and George Earthy is still out of contention with a hamstring issue. James Ward-Prowse is poised to remain out of the picture, after not being involved since Nuno's appointment.
Callum Wilson, Kyle Walker-Peters and Guido Rodriguez - who are on contracts worth a combined total of £180,000-per-week before bonuses - are expected to miss out on the starting line-up, while Crysencio Summerville will start against his former club.
Nuno Drops Team News Update
West Ham United head coach Nuno Espirito Santo applauding the supporters
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Nuno confirmed that Mavropanos will not be part of the matchday squad as West Ham look to grab their second away win of the campaign. He said:
"Dinos is injured. He came off [against Brentford], and he now has a scan to see the injury he has. I don't know exactly how long he'll be out, but he'll be missing on Friday."
West Ham Predicted XI
Jarrod Bowen in action for West Ham United
West Ham Predicted XI: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Diouf; Soucek, Magassa, Fernandes; Bowen, Paqueta, Summerville.
West Ham Predicted Substitutes: Hermansen (GK), Walker-Peters (DEF), Igor (DEF), Rodriguez (MID), Potts (MID), Irving (MID), Guilherme (FWD), Wilson (FWD), Marshall (FWD).