Predicted Leeds United XI to face Cardiff City: Five changes as 23-year-old handed just third league start

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Leeds United return to league action this afternoon with a trip to Cardiff City.

The Whites will be looking to end a run of three consecutive away league defeats when they face the Bluebirds, though will be feeling confident after back-to-back 3-0 wins over Birmingham City and Peterborough United.

Daniel Farke made a host of changes to his starting XI for that FA Cup tie at Peterborough on Sunday, and so is likely to revert back to a more familiar league line-up.

However, Leeds are set to be without Pascal Struijk and Liam Cooper, meaning there could be a bit of a reshuffle at the back, based on his comments about Charlie Cresswell on Thursday.

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

Goalkeeper

Despite a couple of solid displays by Kristoffer Klaesson, Farke has already confirmed Illan Meslier will come straight back into the team after serving a three-match ban.

Defence

With the aforementioned Cooper and Struijk out, Ethan Ampadu could well line-up at centre-back again alongside Welsh teammate Joe Rodon, having done so last week.

Sam Byram is likely to be fit again but Junior Firpo deserves to keep his place at left-back, with Archie Gray on the other side, having played as a central midfielder at Peterborough.

Midfield

Glen Kamara was handed a nice rest last time out and so is likely to come straight back into the starting XI today.

He could be joined by Ilia Gruev for just his third league start for Leeds, having looked really impressive in his FA Cup outing on Sunday.

Attack

Dan James, Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville will all almost certainly be recalled to the line-up, but the position of Rutter could be interesting.

Farke’s biggest call is arguably who should start from Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe. Having found his confidence again, the former should get the nod, allowing Rutter to play as a number 10 – where he was so impressive against Birmingham.

Predicted XI: Meslier; Gray, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Kamara, Gruev; James, Rutter, Summerville; Bamford