Leeds United are preparing for a quick turnaround as they go up against Middlesbrough at The Riverside on Tuesday night, a fixture that Leeds experienced at this stage last season, too.
The third-last game of 2023-24 also saw Leeds go to Middlesbrough in which The Whites secured a 4-3 away win, thanks to goals from Patrick Bamford, Willy Gnonto and a Crysencio Summerville brace.
It was Leeds’ last win of the regular season in 2023-24, as Daniel Farke’s men missed out on automatic promotion and this time around, Farke takes his squad to Teesside with their grip on the top two loose.
Three draws in a row and one win in six has left Leeds in a precarious spot, slipping into third place. Gary Lineker reminded Leeds fans that whoever finishes in third often slips up in the Championship play-offs.
The decisions Daniel Farke has to make to his Leeds United XI
On Saturday, Farke was without Joe Rothwell and Mateo Joseph. The latter should be okay to go on Tuesday after illness but Rothwell is out for the next few weeks and could miss three or four games.
Pascal Struijk came off towards the end and The Dutchman was hardly able to walk due to the pain according to Farke, after the match. So it may well be that Farke is without both Rothwell and Struijk.
Max Wober did come on against Luton, but it is his first outing in a while and the Austrian is surely unable to complete a full 90 minutes – or, start and play an hour. £10m Ethan Ampadu is the next-best option.
Two changes as Ethan Ampadu changes position once again
As he did last season, Ampadu is set to drop into the middle of the defence if Struijk is out and Wober is unable to start – with it likely to be too soon in his recovery. That leaves a gap in the middle of midfield.
With Rothwell out and Ampadu in defence, that leaves Leeds with just Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev. Up top, Farke has a decision to make with Manor Solomon – with Leeds fans growing fed up with the £15m man.
Solomon needs a rest and the next-best attacker off the bench in Farke’s eyes is likely to be Brenden Aaronson. That sees Aaronson come in as a 10 and Gnonto pushed to the left flank to replace Solomon.
Leeds line-up to face Middlesbrough: Karl Darlow; Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, Junior Firpo; Ao Tanaka, Ilia Gruev; Dan James, Brenden Aaronson, Willy Gnonto; Joel Piroe.
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