Leeds United face a trip to a Sunday afternoon trip to a Sunderland side bottom of the table in their next Premier League game - and this is how we think the Whites will line up.
Boss Daniel Farke named an unchanged side for a fifth game in a row for last weekend’s Roses derby at home to arch rivals Manchester United who left Elland Road with a 1-1 draw after Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half opener was cancelled out by Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s strike after the break.
In the bid for a winner, Noah Okafor, the hero from April’s win at Old Trafford, was the first player taken off by Farke as Lukas Nmecha was introduced with 16 minutes left to partner Calvert-Lewin upfront.
The second and only other change then saw Sean Longstaff brought on for Ao Tanaka as Farke changed is centre-midfield, Longstaff finishing the game in a midfield three along with captain Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach who, along with Okafor, experienced a frustrating afternoon.
The point still kept Leeds flying high in seventh place but Farke admitted his disappointment at not taking all three points from the match and his men will now look to get back on the winning trail in Sunday’s 4.30pn kick-off against rock bottom Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Joe Rodon and Dan James were the only two players out injured for the visit of the Red Devils and it remains to be seen quite when both players are back. Moroever, will Farke be tempted to make any changes to his attack or centre midfield?
There’s plenty to ponder and this is the XI that we think he will send out at the Stadium of Light which would entail a big Farke first.
7. CM: Ethan Ampadu
The captain who Farke often refers to as his most important player and hard to quibble with that view. All set for his 101st game as Leeds captain at the Stadium of Light having reached as 100th as skipper against Man United. Just a case of who partners him in centre mid and in what formation. | Getty Images
8. CM: Ao Tanaka
Sean Longstaff looked pretty bright after replacing Tanaka towards the closing stages of the draw against Man United but Tanaka has been in decent nick of late and Tanaka keeping his place in the middle looks the call. | Getty Images
9. CM: Anton Stach
There's no doubting that Stach is a key player for Leeds but there's also no hiding from the fact that the German has been a bit below his best of late. That said, we've all seen many times before what Stach can produce at set pieces and Farke still kept him on for full 90 against Man United. There's the option to change the formation slightly and start Harry Wilson, or Brenden Aaronson in a no 10 role, or have two wingers supporting the striker, but it appears likely that Farke will keep it as it is. | Getty Images
10. ST: Noah Okafor
Another of the club's stars but another position up for debate perhaps in United's bid to add a bit more creativity, Okafor the first player taken off against Man United as Lukas Nmecha was brought on. But creativity is just what Okafor is about and it would still be a surprise if he came out of the side, more likely that he could feature in a front three perhaps. | Getty Images
11. ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
It's already four goals from seven league games for the Whites no 9 who is obviously another of the first names on the team sheet upfront. All told, Leeds unchanged then with the huge first of Farke naming an unchanged team for a sixth game in a row. | Getty Images