Leeds United are back in Dublin on Wednesday for a pre-season meeting with Manchester United that will be anything but friendly. Daniel Farke’s side head to a sold out Croke Park off the back of three straight wins against top-flight opposition, the latter a 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig last weekend.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha scored in either hour-long period, with Wednesday’s game against Manchester United expected to return to the more traditional 45-minute halves. Club-record signing James Trafford could be in line for an unofficial debut while left wing-back Gabriel Gudmundsson will miss out through injury.
With Wednesday’s game the penultimate opportunity for relationships to form and fitness to build, a strong team is expected. With that in mind, the YEP has attempted to predict how Leeds could line up against Manchester United.
7. CM: Ethan Ampadu
Expected to come back into the starting-XI having made an impact off the bench in midweek, as part of a line-up more resemblant of first-choice. Another that would benefit from a full and intense 90 minutes. | Getty Images
8. CM: Anton Stach
The German has only started once in pre-season so far against Liverpool but with this the final game before Nottingham Forest, now feels the time to get close to 90 minutes. Saturday could provide a big hint for that opener, particularly regarding who starts alongside Ampadu in midfield. | Getty Images
9. LWB: James Justin
Rhys Chadwick started at left wing-back in Dublin, with Justin a half-time substitute and Jayden Lienou falling ill. Again with Forest in mind, expect Farke to go strong with Justin first-choice on that side in the absence of injured Gabriel Gudmundsson. | Getty Images
10. RW: Harry Wilson
Was one of many half-time changes in midweek and again picked up some really intelligent positions, albeit that end-product didn't arrive. Missed a penalty in the shootout but it shouldn't be an issue. Would love to get off the mark with a goal though. | Getty Images
11. LW: Brenden Aaronson
Started and scored against Manchester United, his second goal of a promising pre-season. With Farke admitting it could be difficult to get Noah Okafor fully fit for Forest, and this being the final friendly, it could be that Aaronson fills that left-wing gap for now as the best of the rest. | Getty Images
12. ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
No goal against Manchester United but Calvert-Lewin hit three in two beforehand and buried his shootout spot-kick. A 90-minute showing would be good to see one week before Forest. | Getty Images