The Leeds United starting-XI for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Brentford has been confirmed.
Daniel Farke’s Leeds United starting-XI vs Brentford has been confirmed with Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin handed another chance to work together.
Leeds welcome Brentford to Elland Road this evening for the last of four Saturday-afternoon Premier League fixtures. But they are also the first of four relegation rivals with the chance to pick up points this weekend ahead of Sunday games for West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur - the latter pair face one another.
Farke’s side drew 0-0 at Crystal Palace last time out, producing a mammoth defensive effort after losing Gabriel Gudmundsson to a red card in first-half added-time. The Swede therefore sits out this evening due to suspension, with Jayden Bogle coming back into the XI and James Justin moving across to the left as expected.
Justin’s presence out wide keeps Farke from having to make any major decisions at the back with Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk making up the back three. Karl Darlow keeps his place in goal for a tenth consecutive Premier League game, having kept a rare clean sheet at Selhurst Park.
But decisions have been forced upon Farke further forward, with Noah Okafor’s return from hamstring and hip issues meaning there are no injuries in the Leeds squad. The Swiss winger is fit enough only for the bench, however, replacing Gudmundsson in the squad.
Having only been given 45 minutes to try and work together at Selhurst Park, Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin will get a fresh opportunity. It remains to be seen whether they’ll be upfront together or, like at Palace, Nmecha and Brenden Aaronson will be on either wing.
Anton Stach retains his place in central midfield fresh off a first Germany call-up for four years. The 27-year-old will be given freedom to affect matters in the final third where possible, with club captain Ethan Ampadu in the holding role.
Leeds United starting-XI: Darlow; Rodon, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Stach, Justin; Aaronson, Nmecha, Calvert-Lewin
Subs: Perri, Bornauw, Gruev, Tanaka, Longstaff, Gnonto, James, Okafor, Piroe
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