Daniel Farke has named his Leeds United starting XI to face Derby County in what is the first match of another busy three-game week.
Leeds will be looking to move back top of the Championship following Burnley’s 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough, though that may only be temporarily with Sheffield United in action on Sunday.
Elland Road has been where Leeds have picked up 22 of their 35 points from this season and nothing less than a win will do against the Rams ahead of a tough clash with Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
Despite Farke revealing Junior Firpo as an injury doubt in his press conference, the Leeds left-back has been passed fit to play for this one.
Isaac Schmidt and Ethan Ampadu are also back in the squad, with the latter in particular a huge boost for Leeds ahead of the festive period. Sam Byram and Ilia Gruev remain out.
Confirmed Leeds XI to face Derby
Despite such a disappointing display at Blackburn Rovers last time out, Farke has made just one change to his starting XI for this one.
Max Wober had been hopeful of his first Championship start of the season but with Firpo seemingly coming through Leeds’ last training session unscathed, he keeps his place.
Firpo will be part of the same back four and goalkeeper that started at Ewood Park, with Joe Rodon just needing to get through this game without picking up a yellow card to avoid a suspension.
Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell produced arguably their worst performance together last weekend but Farke has rightfully kept faith in both even with Ampadu back in the squad.
The only change for Leeds comes in those three spots behind the striker as Manor Solomon returns to the line-up in place of Wilfried Gnonto, who is on the bench.
That sees Brenden Aaronson keep his place despite calls to be dropped, playing just behind Joel Piroe, again preferred to both Mateo Joseph and Patrick Bamford.
Confirmed XI: Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Tanaka, Rothwell; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe
Confirmed Leeds bench vs Derby
Farke again has plenty of options to change things from the bench should he wish to do so, which is made even stronger by Ampadu’s return, who takes Charlie Crew’s place in the squad.
Largie Ramazani must now be close to earning his first start since injury but is once again on the bench, with Joseph, Bamford and Gnonto also some good attacking reinforcements.
Schmidt also takes his place on the bench in place of James Debayo, with Karl Darlow, Wober, and Josuha Guilavogui making up the rest of the squad.
Confirmed bench: Darlow, Schmidt, Wober, Ampadu, Guilavogui, Ramazani, Gnonto, Joseph, Bamford
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