Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke had a good mix of first-team regulars and fringe players in the starting line-up for the clash with Birmingham City in the FA Cup on Sunday.
The Whites boss brought Lucas Perri back between the sticks, having lost his place to Karl Darlow in the Premier League, and he turned in a brilliant display, making a terrific save from Jay Stansfield and saving a penalty from Tommy Doyle.
Central defender Sebastiaan Bornauw also made his second start in a row at the heart of the defence and put in a solid display for the Whites alongside Jaka Bijol and James Justin.
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Wilfried Gnonto played as a right wing-back in a rare start, playing over Jayden Bogle, but did not do enough to suggest that he should play more minutes in that role in the Premier League, as he ended the match with no key passes or shots on target.
The Italian winger was not the only player who failed to make the most of their opportunity to impress, though, as Facundo Buonanotte should also be dropped.
Why Leeds should drop Facundo Buonanotte
Leeds signed the attacking midfielder on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion during the January transfer window, and he ended up being their only signing of the month.
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He has endured a frustrating start to his life at Elland Road, though, as he has been an unused substitute twice and played 29 minutes off the bench in two cameos combined in the Premier League so far.
Farke handed him a full debut as one of the two attacking midfielders behind Lukas Nmecha in the clash with Birmingham at the weekend, though, and it was a huge chance for him to show that he has a big role to play for the Whites between now and the end of the season.
Unfortunately, though, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder only managed to prove that the manager was right not to play him too much in the last four Premier League games.
Vs Birmingham Buonanotte
Minutes 45
Shots 0
Key passes 0
Big chances created 0
Successful dribbles 0/3
Duels won 2/9
Possession lost 10x
Buonanotte is a young player who is still developing and learning as a player, but his performance against Birmingham, losing seven of his nine duels, did not suggest that he is ready to make a short-term impact at Elland Road.
With this in mind, Farke may have to look at alternative options to start in the attacking midfield or second striker positions behind Nmecha or Dominic Calvert-Lewin in order to leave the Brighton loanee on the bench for the remainder of this season.
The Leeds star who should be unleashed in a new role
Joel Piroe has endured a difficult campaign in the Premier League this season after winning the Championship Golden Boot with 19 strikes in the 2024/25 campaign.
The Dutch-born star, who recently declared his intention to play for Suriname at international level, was the club's top goalscorer and main number nine in the second tier, but he has not had much joy in the top-flight.
The £12m signing has only started two of his 11 appearances for the club in the Premier League, starting the first two games as a centre-forward, but he could be unleashed in a new role in order to bench Buonanotte.
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The left-footed marksman came on for the final 42 minutes, including extra-time, against Birmingham and played as one of the two number tens behind Calvert-Lewin, which is a role he has yet to start in at Premier League level.
In his 42 minutes on the pitch, Piroe offered more to the team in and out of possession than Buonanotte did in his 45 minutes before being substituted at the break.
Vs Birmingham Buonanotte Piroe
Minutes 45 42
Shots 0 1
Progressive carries 1 2
Key passes 0 1
Duels won 2 3
Ball recoveries 3 5
In less minutes on the pitch, the former Swansea forward won more duels and won back more possessions than the Argentine player did, whilst also offering more in the final third, which was not too difficult given that Buonanotte failed to register a shot or key pass.
Piroe, dubbed a "dangerous" player by journalist Josh Bunting, has had an underwhelming season so far, with no goals or assists in 11 Premier League appearances, but his cameo against Birmingham and his form for the club last term suggests that there is more to come from him.
Joel-Piroe
The 26-year-old forward could take Buonanotte's potential minutes in the side in the second half of the season if Farke unleashes him from the start as one of the attacking midfielders behind the starting striker, which would be a new role for him in the top-flight this term.
Piroe has proven himself to be a lethal scorer in the past, finding the back of the net 35 times in his first two seasons at Elland Road combined, and if he can bring that goalscoring pedigree to the top-flight, the left-footed ace could be a valuable player for Farke.
His emergence as a regular option in the number ten position would also allow Farke to leave Buonanotte on the bench for the remainder of his loan spell, unless the Argentine talent significantly improves his performance levels.
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