Boss Javi Gracia still had six players missing for last weekend’s clash at Chelsea for which Patrick Bamford joined Rodrigo, Luis Sinisterra, Liam Cooper, Adam Forshaw and Stuart Dallas on the sidelines. Ahead of Saturday afternoon’s showdown against Brighton, Gracia held his pre-match press conference at Thorp Arch on Thursday afternoon and revealed that both Rodrigo and Sinisterra had returned to training this week. The Whites boss added that players who were longer-term absentees would need a process before returning but that a final check would be made on Rodrigo and Sinisterra in training on Friday with regards to possible involvement against Brighton. Following Gracia’s updates, this is the XI that we think will set out against the eighth-placed Seagulls who have games in hand on the sides above them.
7. CM - Marc Roca
Roca dropped back to the bench for last weekend's clash at Chelsea and was not called for by Gracia but Leeds missed him and in particular his forward passing in the middle of the park. Assuming all is well fitness wise, there's surely a strong chance he will return to the XI. The first change. But replacing who and in what system? Photo: George Wood
8. CM - Weston McKennie
This is a hard one to call as Gracia went with a 4-4-2/4-2-2-2 of sorts versus Southampton against whom Adams and McKennie formed a two-man centre midfield as Brenden Aaronson more or less partnered Patrick Bamford upfront. But Leeds will need to be very solid through the middle of the park in their attempts to beat Brighton and a three-man midfield might well be the call, the system that Gracia deployed to good effect at Fulham who lined up with a 4-2-3-1 which Brighton normally use. Consequently, Jack Harrison might make way for a three-man axis of Adams, Roca and McKennie which looks United's best bet in that system at present if and when everybody is fit. If so, McKennie would need to push forward to offer support to the front line. Photo: George Wood
9. RW - Crysencio Summerville
The return of Colombian international winger Sinisterra is a huge boost for Leeds and Gracia but it's hard to envisage him coming straight back into the XI after a month out and it might be a place on the bench at best. There are still a variety of options out wide and Summerville might get another start having also lined up at Chelsea. Photo: Catherine Ivill
10. LW - Willy Gnonto
Gnonto has not been at his brilliant best of late and dropped to the bench at Chelsea but he's another player who Leeds missed at Stamford Bridge who surely ought to come back into the XI this weekend. A second change, possibly in for Brenden Aaronson. Photo: Stu Forster
11. ST - Georginio Rutter
Leeds would clearly be massively boosted if top scorer Rodrigo is deemed fit enough to start and he might well be but the percentage call would be to think that he will reappear on the bench. If so, everything would then depend on the condition of Bamford but it's not hard to have doubts about him starting given that he missed out completely at Chelsea due to a leg injury. Gracia admitted on Friday that Rutter would be be best deployed out wide or as a no 10 at present but that it was basically a case of needs musts and it might be the same again against Brighton. Photo: Naomi Baker