Successive defeats to end Leeds United’s regular season will have Daniel Farke pondering changes for the play-off semi-finals with Norwich City.
The Whites make the trip to Carrow Road on Sunday afternoon for the first leg, with the return fixture set to take place at Elland Road in just five days’ time.
Farke has no new injury concerns to contend with ahead of the game but will be without Patrick Bamford once again with his leg issue worse than first feared.
In better news, however, Dan James has a real chance of making the squad after making a partial return to team training earlier this week.
This is now arguably the most important team selection of Farke’s time in charge so far and so here is our predicted XI for the match.
Goalkeeper
Illan Meslier ended the season in shaky form but there is no way Farke will be changing his number one in the play-offs.
Defence
Leeds shipped nine goals in their final three matches and so surely at least one change needs to be made to the back four.
Sam Byram started each of those aforementioned games at right-back but with Connor Roberts now fully fit after making his return from the bench last week, he needs to start.
The £2.5 million rated star has a wealth of experience at this level and will provide even more of a Welsh connection to the defence, with Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon at centre-back.
Junior Firpo was frustrated at himself for his part in Southampton’s second goal last week but his return of seven assists since January means there is no reason for him to be dropped at left-back.
Midfield
With Ampadu once again in the back four, Farke has three players for two positions in midfield. Ilia Gruev, Glen Kamara and Archie Gray will all be pushing to start.
Ilia Gruev is the most defensive minded of those options and though he was poor in Leeds’ penultimate match at QPR, he starts tomorrow.
Leeds have far more control in midfield when Kamara is in there and so he should just about get the nod over Gray.
Attack
Arguably Farke’s biggest call once again comes in attack with Bamford again set to be absent due to injury.
Joel Piroe is seemingly Farke’s preferred option when Bamford is not available and though he did score last week, the 24-year-old has been poor all season away from home, particularly in that recent match at QPR.
Mateo Joseph will be desperate to start, but it just does not look like that will happen. Instead, Piroe looks as though he will join Willy Gnonto, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter in the front four.
Leeds need a big performance from Rutter amid his poor recent run of form, but could have James ready on the bench if things don’t go to plan.
Predicted XI: Meslier; Roberts, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Gruev, Kamara; Gnonto, Rutter, Summerville; Piroe
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