A look at the possibilities Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has at his disposal for tonight’s vital Championship encounter against Queens Park Rangers.
Leeds United are prepared for their final away game of the exciting 2023/24 season. A win at Queens Park Rangers today would put them four points ahead in the Championship automatic promotion chase.
The Whites have the division’s joint second best defensive record away from home. This year, their performances and results away from Elland Road have significantly improved.
It’s crunch time in the race for a top-two finish, and Daniel Farke has encouraged his young team to rise to the challenge. “If you want to change your approach during an important game, you have to believe in your players,” he went on to say. “We are now working on these themes on the training pitch. We can play in a variety of configurations, including switching from man to zone-oriented structure, sitting deeper, or vice versa. It’s difficult to convey messages during boisterous games, but practice in training helps.”
Winger Dan James and full-back Connor Roberts have been ruled out of the trip to the capital, while Patrick Bamford will undergo a late fitness test. Farke admitted Bamford would most likely be fit if the match was played over the weekend.
Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe are waiting in the wings for a chance to make a claim if Bamford is unavailable for selection. Spanish Joseph, an Under-21 international, has made a number of notable cameo appearances from the bench.
Joe Rodon and Sam Byram are in contention to start at Loftus Road after demonstrating their fitness to the club’s medical team following Monday’s exciting victory over Middlesbrough.
Pascal Struijk, a Dutch centre-back, is out with an injury for an extended period of time.
Leeds United’s squad for QPR included Meslier, Darlow, Klaesson, Gray, Rodon, Firpo, Byram, Cooper, Cresswell, Shackleton, Ampadu, Kamara, Gruev, Gnonto, Summerville, Anthony, Bamford, Piroe, Rutter, Gelhardt, and Joseph.
