Following Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Millwall, Leeds United are now focusing on the league and the chase for promotion with 15 games to play – the first of which comes on Tuesday night.
Daniel Farke’s Leeds go to struggling Watford on Tuesday night, a side that have won just once in their last 10 matches. Leeds beat Watford at home with a 2-1 win, Dan James and Brenden Aaronson scoring.
Farke made 10 changes from the side that beat Coventry to take on Millwall in The FA Cup on Saturday, with only Ethan Ampadu retaining his place. Isaac Schmidt was probably the one player to really impress.
Aaronson’s omission was telling, as Leeds lacked that player in transition on Saturday to take the ball from midfield to attack. Mateo Joseph struggled, with Farke saying Joseph missed his chance to shine.
Daniel Farke’s selection dilemmas as Leeds take on Watford
Patrick Bamford remains the only injured player at Leeds. So, Farke has a near-full squad to choose from and the selection dilemmas surround midfield and whether to bring Pascal Struijk back into the side.
Struijk may have missed a penalty on Saturday but the defender is first choice when fit. Farke has said that Ampadu is not the long-term solution at centre-back, and that could mean Struijk is given another start.
If Struijk starts, then Ampadu moves into midfield and then the selection dilemma moves on to who is partnered with the Leeds skipper in midfield. Joe Rothwell, Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev are all available.
Nine changes as Daniel Farke brings Pascal Struijk back in
In recent away games against Burnley and Coventry, £4m Gruev has started. But with some minutes under his belt at the weekend, Farke will be keen to reunite Rodon and Struijk back in central defence soon.
With Ampadu back in midfield, it will be between Gruev and Tanaka to partner him. Rothwell is in superb form but it a whole lot better at home when Leeds have more control and boast better percentage stats.
Gruev might be too similar to Ampadu, making the midfield a touch too defensive. Tanaka then, comes back in alongside Ampadu as Farke returns to his best side and makes nine changes.
In come Illan Meslier, Jayden Bogle, Rodon, Junior Firpo, Tanaka, Dan James, Brenden Aaronson, Manor Solomon and Joel Piroe for Karl Darlow, Schmidt, Sam Byram, Rothwell, Josuha Guilavogui, Sam Chambers, Wilfried Gnonto, Largie Ramazani and Joseph.
Predicted XI: Illan Meslier; Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, Junior Firpo; Ao Tanaka, Ethan Ampadu; Dan James, Brenden Aaronson, Manor Solomon; Joel Piroe.
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