Huge double Leeds United blow confirmed as starting-XI vs Fulham named
Daniel Farke has named his Leeds United line-up for this afternoon’s Premier League meeting with Fulham at Elland Road.
Leeds United have suffered a massive double blow ahead of Fulham with two key players not in the matchday squad.
The Whites take on Fulham at Elland Road this afternoon hoping to bounce back from last week’s crushing 4-3 defeat at Newcastle which ended a seven-game unbeaten Premier League run. Farke’s side still have an eight-point gap on the relegation places which could either be extended or reduced today.
Speaking earlier this week, Farke provided a wholly positive squad update with three defenders back in contention. Sebastiaan Bornauw’s adductor issue, picked up at Derby County, was not as bad as first feared while Jayden Bogle and Joe Rodon have recovered from calf and ankle injuries respectively.
But upon confirming his starting XI for Fulham, Farke revealed two big blows with neither Jaka Bijol nor Anton Stach involved at all. The reason behind the pair’s absence is not yet known but having both impressed so much in recent weeks, their unavailability is a huge blow for Leeds.
Recent errors have fuelled some calls for Lucas Perri to be dropped and after being openly critical of his goalkeeper, Farke has placed the Brazilian on the bench. He is replaced by Karl Darlow, following his FA Cup appearance at Pride Park last weekend.
At the back, James Justin looks set to play alongside Rodon and Pascal Struijk in the back three, with Bogle returning to the starting-XI at right wing-back and Gabriel Gudmundsson on the other side. Stach has been replaced by Ilia Gruev in central midfield with Brenden Aaronson the most advanced of the three.
Noah Okafor has been picked to start alongside December’s Premier League Player of the Month, Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Meanwhile, new signing Facundo Buonanotte could be handed a Leeds debut following confirmation of his six-month loan from Brighton on Thursday.
The 21-year-old Argentinian has been named on the bench and will hope to make an instant impact in front of the Elland Road crowd. He joins the likes of Sean Longstaff, Ao Tanaka, Willy Gnonto and Lukas Nmecha on the bench.
Leeds United starting-XI: Darlow; Justin, Rodon, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Gruev, Aaronson, Gudmundsson; Okafor, Calvert-Lewin
Subs: Perri, Bornauw, Byram, Longstaff, Tanaka, Buonanotte, Gnonto, Piroe, Nmecha