Leeds United face a big match at the top of the Championship on Tuesday evening as Middlesbrough make the trip to Elland Road.
Leeds in second will be looking to move 10 points clear of fifth place Boro with a win, in what could already be argued as a promotion six-pointer.
Boro have already beaten Leeds in West Yorkshire this season with an emphatic 3-0 victory in the Carabao Cup back in August, though both starting line-ups are likely to be very different.
Junior Firpo is Leeds’ only confirmed injury following the weekend win over Derby County, which was their seventh in a row at home in the league.
That said, Daniel Farke claimed he could be without both first choice full-backs as Jayden Bogle is also a doubt after feeling some muscle soreness in his hamstring.
Farke makes decision on Sam Byram and Jayden Bogle
Leeds had arguably one of the strongest benches ever seen at this level against Derby following Ethan Ampadu’s return from a long-term lay-off.
However, in typical fashion, as one comes back Leeds lose someone else with Firpo expected to miss the entire festive period due to the hamstring issue he picked up.
Firpo’s injury makes the return of Sam Byram all the more important as according to Leeds Live, he has indeed been named in the squad.
The ‘reliable‘ Byram has been back in training for a couple of days now and it will be interesting to see whether Farke throws him straight back into the line-up considering his fitness issues in recent years.
Farke’s decision may be made a little easier if that report is correct by the news that Bogle is fit enough to be in the squad.
It remains to be seen if that is enough to keep his place in the starting XI, with Max Wober likely to earn his first start of the season on the left after scoring against Derby.
- READ MORE: Wilfried Gnonto shares how Leeds United squad are feeling about their push for promotion so far
Who will Farke play at full-back for Leeds?
As mentioned, playing Wober on the left feels like a no brainer as he has finally been able to build up a little bit of momentum recently.
His first goal for Leeds will have given him a lot of confidence, but he will be facing a considerably more difficult opponent in Ben Doak.
On the other flank, it is more difficult. After losing Firpo, Farke will not want to take too many risks with Bogle ahead of a busy run of matches.
While he may be fit enough for the squad, it would be wise to leave him on the bench. It is also a risk throwing Byram straight back in, and so Isaac Schmidt could be the man to come in for his full debut.
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