Daniel Farke’s Leeds United side could really do with a win against Aston Villa - and this is how we think the Whites will line up.
Farke’s men pulled six points clear of the Premier League dropzone through the 2-1 victory at home to West Ham United at the end of last month but a six-point cushion has since been slashed.
Disappointing defeats at Brighton and Nottingham Forest have left Leeds fifth-bottom, just one point above the dropzone and also one point ahead of fourth-bottom Burnley.
Farke made two changes to his team for the 3-1 defeat at Forest in the last game before the Novembefr international break as Lukas Nmecha and Anton Stach both came into the side.
Stach replaced Ao Tanaka who dropped to the bench whilst Nmecha led the line upfront as Calvert-Lewin also dropped to the bench amid fitness doubts over his adductor strain.
Farke also kept summer centre-back signing Jaka Bijol alongside Joe Rodon at the heart of the defence as Pascal Struijk sat on the bench for the third game in a row.
Calvert-Lewin, Struijk and also Dan James, Joel Piroe and Jack Harrison were eventually all brought on in the second half as Leeds chased the game but ultimately en route to suffering a 3-1 defeat.
James in particular has since impressed on international duty with Wales ahead of Sunday’s return to action at home to Villa in a 2pm kick-off at Elland Road.
Farke has some big decisions to make and this is the XI that we think he will send out against Unai Emery’s sixth-placed side.
.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
7. CM: Sean Longstaff
Farke might well change his midfield but Longstaff has now started United's last nine games and it would be a big surprise if he came out of the fold, especially with his set piece deliveries in mind and the Rodon-Longstaff threat. | Getty Images
.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
8. CM: Anton Stach
Stach was another to struggle at Forest and Ao Tanaka replacing the German appears an obvious possible change but Tanaka has been away on international duty with Japan and it might be that Stach gets another chance to shine. | Getty Images

9. LW: Noah Okafor
There are big question marks about United's attack and who starts where but Okafor has by and large impressed since joining the club in the summer and appears a pretty safe bet to start on the left wing. | Getty Images
.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
10. RW: Brenden Aaronson
One of the biggest calls with Leeds struggling for goals and with Dan James shining on international duty with Wales. James for Aaronson would appear an obvious change but Farke made a big point of highlighting how it would take James time to find his rhythm and top form after more or less five months out with injuries. It might well be that James starts anyway but Aaronson has started United's last eight games and the gut feeling after Farke's comments is that he will keep his place in the side, especially with Willy Gnonto seemingly in a similar boat to James on the injury comeback trail. | Getty Images
.jpeg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
11. ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Lukas Nmecha was handed just a second league start at Forest as Calvert-Lewin dropped to the bench but Calvert-Lewin had been a doubt to even feature at Forest due to an adductor strain. Clearly brought in as the new first choice no 9, Calvert-Lewin is now firmly expected to come back into the XI. The second of two changes. | Getty Images

