Daniel Farke has made four changes to his Leeds United starting XI to face Middlesbrough at Elland Road.
Leeds were comfortable 2-0 winners over Derby County at the weekend but are likely to be in for a much tougher test this evening against a Boro side that beat the Whites 3-0 in the Carabao Cup in August.
This is arguably the biggest match of this midweek set of Championship fixtures as both teams hold aspirations of winning promotion in May, with Leeds sat second, and Boro slightly further back in fifth.
Michael Carrick refused to label Elland Road as the toughest away match in the Championship when asked in his pre-match press conference, but in order to get any kind of result, will need to end Leeds’ seven match winning run at home.
However, only arguably Sheffield United represented a tougher challenge than Middlesbrough in that recent run of victories.
Confirmed Leeds XI to face Middlesbrough at Elland Road
Junior Firpo was Leeds’ only confirmed injury from the weekend coming into this one after limping off inside 20 minutes against Derby due to a hamstring issue.
Firpo is set to be out for the next six weeks and after his goal scoring appearance from the bench, Max Wober replaces him. This could be the start of a proper run in the side for him.
On the other flank, Farke also revealed Jayden Bogle as a doubt and unfortunately he hasn’t recovered in time to be available, meaning Sam Byram starts. Illan Meslier, Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon make up the rest of the defensive unit.
Despite Ethan Ampadu having another two days of training in his locker, Farke continues with the same midfield pair that has started the last 10 matches in Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell.
Farke’s other two changes to the line-up come in attack with Wilfried Gnonto replacing Manor Solomon and Mateo Joseph coming in for Joel Piroe.
Confirmed XI: Meslier; Byram, Rodon, Struijk, Wober; Tanaka, Rothwell; James, Aaronson, Gnonto; Joseph
Confirmed Leeds bench to face Middlesbrough
Despite losing Firpo from Saturday’s squad, Leeds’ bench still has a very strong look to it.
With Bogle and Firpo out, Byram and Charlie Crew are the men to replace them in the matchday squad, the latter of which is on the bench.
Ampadu is also amongst the subs for a second successive match, with Largie Ramazani, Manor Solomon, Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford some real firepower in reserve if Farke needs.
Confirmed bench: Darlow, Schmidt, Crew, Guilavogui, Ampadu, Ramazani, Piroe, Solomon, Bamford
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