Leeds United will field their strongest side against Burnley in Monday’s massive promotion clash.
Daniel Farke is making no room for excuses ahead of Monday’s trip to Burnley. The Leeds United boss has rubbished talk that fatigue will influence the result of the match and believes five days is more than enough rest time.
As a result, Leeds United supporters may be able to predict who begins at Turf Moor. There has been angst in the stands towards Illan Meslier given his blunders this season.
However, Farke has stated that he remains his number one goalkeeper and will start against Burnley unless injured or ill. This season, the shot-stopper has kept the second-most clean sheets in the Championship, trailing only Burnley’s James Trafford (16 to 18).
A major chunk of the blank-slate credit must go to the defence, which has kept three consecutive clean sheets. There is excellent news for Pascal Struijk, as scans suggest the centre-back has not torn his tendon.
Monday’s encounter is too soon for the 25-year-old, but Farke believes he will be back in team training within a week, having already begun individual drills. Captain Ethan Ampadu is therefore set to partner Joe Rodon in the center of defence to reconstruct the “Welsh wall”.
Farke claims that Jayden Bogle has been his player of the match for the last 10 games and is probably a shoo-in to start next week. Junior Firpo is making significant efforts in regaining match fitness following a foot injury over the holidays.
He played his first Championship minutes since his injury when he replaced Sam Byram early in the second half against Norwich City on Wednesday. His attacking play ultimately contributed to the second goal. Just days prior, Farke stated that he was “not far away” from being ready to start a match.
However, it appears irresponsible to remove Byram from the left-back position where he has gained so much traction and upset an already thin backline. Furthermore, bringing Firpo into such a major game from the start is risky, despite his evident strengths.
Farke dubbed Ao Tanaka “naive” for lunging at Norwich’s Emiliano Marcondes while on a yellow card in midweek. The Japanese player can thank his lucky stars that the referee did not book him for taking advantage of the situation, even if his manager believed he did not deserve to be sent off in the first place.
Tanaka has been in excellent form for United, and his absence would have been a significant blow. He and Joe Rothwell have formed an effective midfield partnership, and Farke is unlikely to make any changes.
Manor Solomon is in unstoppable form, with two goals and two assists in his last three games. He thanked Daniel James for setting up his goal against Norwich in under a minute before returning the favour in the second half.
James now has 11 goal contributions this season while Solomon has nine. Both have to start. Aaronson agrees, but for different reasons.
The American, who has started the last 26 league games, has put himself about nicely and did provide a great through ball for James during the opening goal against Norwich. However, it is fair to say that he has been at his best in recent games.
However, because there are no direct options at No.10, he is unlikely to be dropped. Joel Piroe is United’s leading scorer and most dangerous centre forward.
He was given half-chances against Norwich but still managed to test the goalkeeper once or twice.
Farke has urged on his strikers to be productive against Burnley, who have preserved six consecutive league clean sheets and conceded only nine goals in 28 Championship games. Piroe is United’s best chance of breaching the block as a centre forward.
Predicted Leeds United XI vs Burnley: Meslier; Bogle, Ampadu, Rodon, Byram; Tanaka, Rothwell; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe.
