.jpg?trim=0,0,0,0&crop=&width=640&quality=70&enable=upscale)
Leeds United will return from the season’s second international break with Saturday’s Premier League clash at Burnley - and this is how we think the Whites will line-up.
Boss Daniel Farke will have three particularly big decisions to make, even allowing for a clean bill of health from the second round of internationals this week.
Leeds spent north of £15m to sign Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri from Lyon in the summer transfer window but the 27-year-old has missed his new club’s last four games with a squad injury.
Perri, though, returned to training just before the international break, Farke declaring that he expected the Brazilian to be back available for the games on the other side of it.
Karl Darlow, however, has been solid between the sticks in Perri’s absence. Another key decision concerns another summer signing in Jaka Biol, bought for £15m from Udinese ahead of the Premier League return.
Bijol was suspended for the first game of the new season against Everton for which Pascal Struijk lined up alongside Joe Rodon at the heart of the defence. Struijk and Rodon have started every league game since but the Whites have now gone four games without keeping a clean sheet, giving Farke another big decision to make.
Another one also presents itself at the other end of the pitch with Brenden Aaronson who has started United’s last four games facing a very tight turnaround after his international commitment with the USA. The States face Australia in the early hours of Wednesday morning in a 2am kick-off time.
There’s a lot for Farke to consider and, at this range, this is the XI that we think he will send out at Turf Moor.
7. CM: Sean Longstaff
Summer signing Longstaff was in blinding form before the international break, so much so that he now looks an automatic pick in midfield despite the competition for places. | Getty Images
.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
8. CM: Anton Stach
After two weeks without a game having not been on international duty, it would be a big surprise if the impressive giant German summer signing did not keep his place in a three-man centre midfield. | Getty Images
9. RW: Brenden Aaronson
Aaronson played 26 minutes off the bench for the USA in a friendly against Australia that kicked off in the early hours of Wednesday morning. That's not exactly the ideal preparation given the flight time back but Aaronson has completed quick turnarounds before and another might now be needed with Gnonto out, Okafor a doubt and James surely not yet a starting option. | Getty Images
.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
10. LW: Jack Harrison
Harrison has been taken gradual steps forward following his return after two seasons away on loan at Everton and a first league start of the season now looks likely at Turf Moor given the situations with Gnonto, Okafor and James, A major change and a huge chance for him. | Getty Images
11. ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
The new Whites no 9 could do with another goal but his all round game has been very good and important to the way Leeds play. Confidently expected to lead the line again despite competition from Joel Piroe and Lukas Nmecha. | Getty Images