Daniel Farke has named his starting XI for Leeds United’s trip to Norwich City.
Farke returns to Carrow Road for the third since becoming manager at Leeds with the aim of becoming the first side to beat Norwich in the league at home in 11 months.
Following the tight turnaround from Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Coventry City, Farke has had a number of injury concerns to deal with in the lead up to this one.
Ethan Ampadu has been ruled out of action for 10 weeks, joining Manor Solomon, Max Wober, Dan James and Isaac Schmidt in the treatment room.
And Leeds’ injury issues are certainly reflected in the lack of rotation in Farke’s starting XI, with very little in the way of options to change things.
Confirmed Leeds starting XI to face Norwich
Farke has made just the one enforced change from the side that comprehensively beat Coventry on Saturday.
Ao Tanaka impressed off the bench in place of Ampadu on Saturday and so is finally handed his first Leeds start following a £3.4 million move from Fortuna Dusseldorf.
He will be partnering Ilia Gruev in the midfield, though it is unclear whether he will be playing more advanced than the other day.
Just the one change means Farke has been able to name the same back five that has started all seven league matches so far, with Illan Meslier lining up behind Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Junior Firpo.
Despite Joel Piroe’s run of goals from the bench, the ‘brilliant‘ Mateo Joseph keeps his place leading the line, with Brenden Aaronson, Wilfried Gnonto and Largie Ramazani making up the rest of the team.
Confirmed XI: Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Gruev, Tanaka; Gnonto, Aaronson, Ramazani; Joseph
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Leeds’ bench lacking game changers
As a result of the five players missing from tonight’s match, Leeds’ bench certainly has a worrying look to it.
Of the only options, it is only really Piroe you would back to come on and make an impact, though Patrick Bamford, Joe Rothwell and Sam Byram do add some outfield experience.
Joe Gelhardt could potentially get an opportunity, though Farke has been reluctant to use him pretty much through the entirety of his reign.
Charlie Crew and James Debayo are the two youngsters most likely to be called into action in the event of more injuries, as they have now been in and around the first team squad for much of the season. 17-year-old Sam Chambers is on there too.
Confirmed bench: Darlow, Byram, Debayo, Crew, Rothwell, Gelhardt, Chambers, Bamford, Piroe
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