Leeds United take on West Ham in the FA Cup quarter-final this week looking to book a trip to Wembley under Daniel Farke.
Club football finally gets back underway this weekend, and Leeds’ fight for survival will have to wait another week.
The FA Cup takes precedent this weekend, and for Leeds, it’s a chance to seal a dream trip to Wembley. Getting past a resurgent West Ham is the mission.
Leeds United team news pre-West Ham: Dominic Calvert-Lewin fresh doubt after England duty
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the only doubt for Leeds this week as we look to a trip to the London Stadium. The 28-year-old was part of the England squad briefly as he came off the bench in a 1-1 draw with Uruguay.
However, upon returning to Thorp Arch this week, the striker has picked up a slight hamstring issue that forced him to sit out of training, Farke confirmed.
It leaves him a doubt for the game as the club confirmed a precautionary scan. Meanwhile, Anton Stach was said to have a hip problem, but one that won’t keep him from featuring this Sunday.
Here, I predict the lineup I think Farke will name as Leeds face West Ham in the FA Cup quarter-final…
Goalkeeper: Lucas Perri
I do expect Farke to go as strong as possible for this game, as we’ve got plenty of time before the Man Utd trip in the league.
That being said, I do think he sticks with Lucas Perri as his ‘cup goalkeeper’. The Brazilian has tumbled to second choice in the pecking order due to his own blunders and Karl Darlow’s fine form and air of calmness in the goalmouth.
Perri, though, has shown in the FA Cup that he shouldn’t just be forgotten about. We wouldn’t have this chance at a historic cup run without his heroics in the fourth round against Birmingham City.
A good performance here would again go a decent way to repairing his own already-damaged reputation at Elland Road.
Defence: Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, Pascal Struijk
As a centre-back trio, I don’t think there should be any debate around who starts here, as these three are our strongest options.
Joe Rodon has taken to his hybrid right-sided role superbly well since the change in formation, and his pace on the right covers us seriously well. His crossing, weirdly, is actually brilliant as well.
Like Rodon, Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk should also provide Leeds with great aerial presence against a side who looked hapless in defending crosses last time we faced them.
That was back in October and so much has changed thanks to Nuno Espirito Santo and his coaching staff this season. This back three will be asked many more questions than we were in that 2-1 home win.
Midfield: Jayden Bogle, Anton Stach, Ethan Ampadu, Gabriel Gudmundsson
In a central midfield duo, I’m expecting Ethan Ampadu to captain the side alongside Germany’s Anton Stach, after limited action in the international break.
Farke’s wording of Stach’s issue in training suggests he’ll be completely fine to start this game, and we’ll need him against a very athletic Irons midfield setup.
At wing-back, Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson both starting should give us the balance and thrust that we sorely lacked out wide against Brentford.
It’s not rocket science that a team needs consistent wide threat to create chances on a regular basis. Gudmundsson’s return from suspension is vital to that.
Attack: Brenden Aaronson, Lukas Nmecha, Willy Gnonto
As much as I’m well aware this wouldn’t be a popular choice amongst the fans. I do expect Brenden Aaronson to retain a starting spot on the right.
In an away game, we all know Farke is risk-averse first and foremost. So, his most intense attacker out of possession is very likely to start. Especially so when Farke praised him in his press conference.
With Rodon flying out wide and Bogle getting to be more advanced, it allows Aaronson to invert. In an ideal world, it’s the perfect role for Facundo Buonanotte, but is that at all likely to ever happen?
Elsewhere, I don’t think we should consider risking Calvert-Lewin. Lukas Nmecha has been more than viable as a goalscorer with one of the best goalscoring hit-rates in the Premier League.
On the left, we need that creativity back. But, Noah Okafor isn’t fit, so surely Farke turns to Willy Gnonto to add some guile to our front three.
Given Gudmundsson’s quality comes from a variety of wide and inverted driving runs, Gnonto could benefit as someone equally versatile in how he likes to attack.
Full Leeds United predicted XI to face West Ham:
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