Predicted Leeds United XI to face Chelsea: Four changes as £2.5m man makes full debut, 20-year-old also starts

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Daniel Farke is expected to make changes to his Leeds United side that faces Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round tonight.

Today’s match represents the start of a busy period of four matches in just 10 days and with the promotion battle hotting up, it is clear that Leeds’ priority is not the cup.

Farke confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter, Dan James and Patrick Bamford are all doubtful, though Sam Byram is back.

Pascal Struijk, Karl Darlow and Stuart Dallas remain unavailable for selection, though, and so the starting XI could certainly have somewhat of a second string look to it.

Here is our predicted XI for the match.

Goalkeeper

Illan Meslier played in both of the fourth round matches with Plymouth Argyle and so is likely to start in goal.

Defence

Farke hinted that Connor Roberts could come in for his full Leeds debut after joining from Burnley and deservedly so after his impact from the bench against Leicester City.

On the other flank, it feels unlikely that Farke will throw Byram straight into the XI given his recent injury problems, and he could be eased back in, with Junior Firpo starting again.

Liam Cooper and Charlie Cresswell will both be pushing for a start here but the former certainly feels the more likely to come in. Ethan Ampadu starts against his former club, with Joe Rodon rested.

Midfield

Archie Gray could get a chance to start in midfield with £2.5m man Roberts at right-back but this feels like an ideal time to give him some sort of rest, even if it means coming off the bench.

With that in mind, Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara once again start alongside each other in the engine room. Hopefully there is scope to bring them off at some point, though.

Attack

With Summerville, Rutter, Bamford and James doubtful, it would not be a surprise to see all four of them rested this evening.

However, Farke certainly seemed the most optimistic over the latter and so he could be involved in some capacity.

James’ fitness could mean Willy Gnonto gets another start on the right, with Jaidon Anthony replacing Summerville on the other flank. Joel Piroe also starts, with Mateo Joseph getting the nod up front.

Predicted XI: Meslier; Roberts, Ampadu, Cooper, Firpo; Gruev, Kamara; Gnonto, Piroe, Anthony; Joseph