Predicted Leeds United XI for Peterborough match: Seven changes as 21-year-old starts despite exit talk

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Leeds United are in FA Cup action tomorrow as they make the trip to League One side Peterborough United.

The Whites will be looking to qualify for the fourth round for just the second time in seven years, but face a Peterborough outfit who are currently flying high in League One.

Following the busy Christmas period, Daniel Farke is likely to make a number of changes to his starting XI, with injury problems also starting to mount up.

Karl Darlow, Pascal Struijk, Liam Cooper, Sam Byram, Luke Ayling, Jamie Shackleton and Joe Gelhardt could all be missing through respective injury problems, while Illan Meslier serves the final game of his three-match ban.

So, with that in mind, here is our predicted Leeds XI for the match.

Goalkeeper

Farke spoke highly of Kristoffer Klaesson in his press conference and will be handed his second consecutive start for the club.

Defence

With Djed Spence having had his loan spell at Leeds terminated, and both Ayling and Shackleton out, Archie Gray is Leeds’ only option at right-back.

Junior Firpo is expected to line up on the other flank after his two-assist performance last time out from the bench in place of the injured Byram.

It would’ve been nice for Rodon to get a rest but with Struijk and Cooper likely to be out, it’s needs must. Despite talk of an exit, Charlie Cresswell is handed his first start since August.

Leo Hjelde could well be another option either at centre-back or left-back, but he just feels too far from Farke’s thoughts to get a start.

Midfield

Ethan Ampadu has started and finished all but one of every match for Leeds in all competitions this season, and deserves a rest here.

With Gray at right-back, the midfield almost picks itself here, meaning Ilia Gruev is handed just his third Leeds start alongside Glen Kamara.

Attack

The front four is where Farke is likely to rotate the most, given the importance of both Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville. Neither start here.

Dan James and Patrick Bamford could also both come out of the side, with Willy Gnonto, Joel Piroe, Jaidon Anthony and Mateo Joseph all getting the nod.

Predicted Leeds XI: Klaesson; Gray, Rodon, Cresswell, Firpo; Kamara, Gruev; Gnonto, Piroe, Anthony, Joseph