Leeds were without 11 first team players for last Thursday night’s friendly against Spanish hosts Elche for which Patrick Bamford, Luis Sinisterra, Robin Koch, Diego Llorente, Junior Firpo and longer-term absentee Stuart Dallas were all injured in addition to goalkeepers Illan Meslier and Kristoffer Klaesson being unwell.
United’s World Cup trio Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen did not join up with the Whites squad in Spain after their exploits in Qatar and Leeds then lost both Crysencio Summerville and Sonny Perkins to fresh injuries during the contest against Elche.
Adams, Aaronson and Kristensen were all set to return this week, putting them in contention to face Sociedad, though quite who lines up to face Sociedad depends very much on the injuries situation given the large number of absentees.
The most recent updates would suggest that at least Bamford, Sinisterra, Llorente and Meslier are all still out in addition to longer-term absentee Dallas with question marks over Koch, Firpo and Klaesson plus also now Perkins and Sinsterra. Given everything that we know, this is how we think Leeds will line up against the side currently sat third in La Liga, behind only Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Adams, Aaronson and Kristensen were all set to return this week, putting them in contention to face Sociedad, though quite who lines up to face Sociedad depends very much on the injuries situation given the large number of absentees.
7. CM - Adam Forshaw
Forshaw made a welcome return from recent injuries and then a hernia operation when lining up against Elche and he looks all set to be given another opportunity given the recent exploits of Adams although starting Sam Greenwood in the role or putting Mateusz Klich in the deeper position there are other options too. Photo: Clive Mason
8. RW - Jack Harrison
There are all sorts of injury doubts when it comes to attacking players but it's pretty safe to assume that Patrick Bamford and Luis Sinisterra are both still out for now and Crysencio Summerville didn't look great when coming off against Elche although Marsch was hopeful the injury wasn't that bad. Brenden Aaronson has also only recently returned from the World Cup but there are no concerns about Jack Harrison who, all things considered, appears the first name on the team sheet out wide against Sociedad. Sinsterra is recovering from a Lisfranc/foot injury but did travel with the squad to Spain. It's likely he will need a bit longer. Photo: George Wood
9. LW - Wily Gnonto
The rest of the front three is quite hard to call, Rodrigo starting aside, as Gnonto was only named on the bench against Elche and came on as one of five changes in the 61st minute. But he's quite clearly already close to being in the first choice XI even when everyone is fully fit and this looks a good opportunity for a start. Photo: Marc Atkins
10. ACM - Sam Greenwood
With Bamford set to need a little longer and doubts about Perkins, the no 10 position is probably a toss up between Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood and Mateusz Klich who proved the hero against Elche. It's a hard one to call but Greenwood was called off the bench in the early stages against Elche after Summerville's injury, albeit Gelhardt was already on the pitch, so perhaps he will now start in a central role leaving it a toss up between Gelhardt and Gnonto out wide. Photo: George Wood
11. ST - Rodrigo
A bit like Cooper in defence, Rodrigo is the first name on the team sheet in the front four right now and that's probably even the case with everyone fully fit at present. Rodrigo sits joint fourth in the Premier League's top scorer charts on nine goals and he looks all set to bag another start against Sociedad in the bid to put himself cherry ripe to face City. Photo: Marc Atkins