Predicted Leeds United XI to face Stoke City as Daniel Farke makes controversial change

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Leeds United are back on the road on Boxing Day as they make the trip to Stoke City in the Championship.

This game will officially mark the halfway point of the season and after another comprehensive home win over Oxford United, Leeds need to start replicating that away.

With Leeds now right in the thick of the festive period, rotation is going to be extremely important for Daniel Farke and so it will be interesting to see what changes he looks to make.

Farke was afforded the luxury of bringing players off early against Oxford and even rested Pascal Struijk completely after some hamstring tightness last week.

Here is our predicted XI for the match.

Goalkeeper

Illan Meslier was a spectator for much of Leeds’ win on Saturday and keeps his place in goal.

Defence

The first change for Leeds comes at the back and that will see Struijk return at the heart of defence after a clever decision by Farke to rest him.

While Max Wober looks like he could be back in contention after some knee problems, Sam Byram keeps his place at left-back, though he is someone Farke will need to be careful with.

Jayden Bogle and Joe Rodon make up the rest of the back four, with the former full of confidence after netting his third of the season.

Midfield

While this may be controversial, Struijk’s return to the team isn’t actually in place of Ethan Ampadu, but Joe Rothwell.

Rothwell was exceptional once again at the weekend but Leeds’ poor away form has coincided with Ampadu‘s injury and sooner rather than later, he needs to come back into the team.

It is away from Elland Road where Rothwell hasn’t quite had the same impact, but that is not to say he won’t play a major part over Christmas. Ao Tanaka partners Rothwell.

Attack

Farke will chop and change his wingers over the course of the next few games but there looks as though there is enough time until Boxing Day to keep it as it is.

Manor Solomon produced his best Leeds display against Oxford and so simply can’t be dropped, while Dan James also continued his fine run of form.

Brenden Aaronson’s confidence levels should also be high after a goal and an assist, and he should start in the number 10 position behind Mateo Joseph, who replaces Joel Piroe.