News

Leeds United fans are desperate for Daniel Farke to play Wilfried Gnonto in a new position against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday

Add as preferred source on Google

Leeds United are preparing to do battle against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon at Ewood Park, with a win required to go back to the top of the Championship table.

Sheffield United leapfrogged Leeds on Friday night with a win over Sunderland, as Tom Davies scored a late goal to secure victory against promotion rivals Sunderland. Both teams finished the game with 10.

Leeds then, need a win to go back to the top of the table and clock up 38 points from 18 Championship games. But, Daniel Farke will be well aware he lost both matches faced against John Eustace last season.

The German manager has a few selection headaches to unpick come Saturday afternoon when he selects his starting XI. Junior Firpo is expected to come back in on the left of the defence, for injured Sam Byram.

Leeds United FC v Luton Town FC - Sky Bet Championship
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images

Leeds United fans want Wilfried Gnonto in a new position today

Byram picked up a muscle injury on Wednesday night and while Farke said he had not yet received the results of a scan on Thursday’s press conference, the chances are that in-form Byram will not be risked.

Firpo is back from a three-game suspension and will surely start. Elsewhere, Farke will also have to decide who plays out wide with Manor Solomon, Wilfried Gnonto, Dan James and Largie Ramazani all fit to play.

But Brenden Aaronson struggled against Luton and Leeds fans have called on Farke to rest the USA star, and play Gnonto in a slightly different position at Blackburn, as a no.10. Here’s what they have said on X.

Another Leeds supporter took to X to say that he’d “keep James” in the starting XI, start Ramazani and move Gnonto “in 10”. Of course, Farke has said that it will be “a while” before Ramazani can start again.

Aaronson has started week in, week out and could well be in need of a rest and one fan says he would prefer Gnonto as a 10 over the USA star, posting: “I’d still have Gnonto in the 10 role over Aaronson.”

According to another supporter, Aaronson is “not making the right decisions” at the moment and he would “love to see” Gnonto tried behind the striker in place of the £25m Leeds star come Saturday.

Another simply posted how he would line-up, naming Gnonto in between wingers James and Ramazani.

Wilfried Gnonto often plays as a no.10 for Italy’s U21 side

Gnonto has played 13 times for Italy’s senior side, but is currently playing for his country’s U21 side at the moment. Winning 12 caps, Gnonto has played as a no.10 in 10 of those 12 appearances for Italy’s 21’s.

Gnonto’s 10 games for Italy U21’s playing as a no.10:

DateOpponentResultGoalsAssists
June 25, 2023Switzerland U21’s3-2 win00
June 28, 2023Norway U21’s1-0 loss10
November 16, 2023San Marino U21’s7-0 win21
November 21, 2023Ireland U21’s2-2 draw20
March 22, 2024Latvia U21’s2-0 win00
March 26, 2024Turkey U21’s1-1 draw01
September 5, 2024San Marino U21’s7-0 win00
September 10, 2024Norway U21’s3-0 win01
October 15, 2024Ireland U21’s1-1 draw01
November 15, 2024France U21’s2-2 draw00

While it is only U21’s level, Gnonto’s nine goals and assists for Italy’s U21 side in 10 games while playing as a no.10 clearly shows he is more than adept in doing it. Whether Farke tries him there, is another story.

Given Farke is likely to make two changes with Firpo replacing Byram and probably, James starting after his third goal of the season against Luton, he will be wary of making another change to disrupt balance.