A full week of training will have helped Leeds United prepare for their meeting against Plymouth Argyle.
Leeds have had a frantic last month or so due to ongoing injuries, with games coming thick and fast either side of another busy international break for Daniel Farke’s squad.
However, Farke has finally been able to use this week to relieve pressure on his Leeds team, which should serve them well at Elland Road.
Farke has three potential injury concerns for the match in Dan James, Patrick Bamford, and Joe Gelhardt, as well as Jayden Bogle, who had his fifth booking of the season last weekend against Bristol City.
Here is our expected XI for the contest.
Goalkeeper
With a couple of strong claims and some nice sweeper keeping, Illan Meslier was as dominant as he has been in a long time at Ashton Gate, and he clearly holds his place.
Defence
Junior Firpo was greatly missed by Leeds last weekend and returns to the team at left-back in Farke’s first alteration.
However, due to Bogle’s ban, Farke will need to make a change on the opposite side of defence, and Isaac Schmidt should take over for Sam Byram.
There is no better time than now to give Schmidt his full debut against a struggling side at home, with Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk rounding out the back four.
Midfield
Josuha Guilavogui has completed another week of full-team training, but he has basically been brought in as Leeds’ backup.
Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell continued their midfield partnership after another strong performance last weekend.
Attack
Leeds’ offensive struggled versus Bristol City, with Largie Ramazani obviously missing out due to an ankle injury.
And Farke may be forced to make another move after learning that James has been battling with his hamstring this week, allowing Manor Solomon to start.
Regardless of who gets the nod from James or Solomon, Wilfried Gnonto will remain on the opposite flank. He now has four bookings and needs to be careful.
This is the type of game for Joel Piroe to start in the number 10 position, but Brenden Aaronson provides far more than him, so the former Swansea City player should be demoted to the bench for Mateo Joseph.
Predicted XI: Meslier; Schmidt, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Tanaka, Rothwell; James, Aaronson; Gnonto, Joseph
