Leeds United v Brentford team news: Two Whites changes as Luke Ayling starts but huge late blow for Bees

Luke Ayling starts and Patrick Bamford returns to the Leeds United bench for Sunday's Premier League hosting of Brentford who have been dealt a hammer late team news blow.
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Star striker Ivan Toney misses out for the Bees having tested positive for coronavirus but former Whites defender Pontus Jansson starts and captains the Bees at Elland Road.

Leeds, meanwhile, line up with Ayling returning straight to the starting XI after two and a half months out as one of two changes to the side.

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Junior Firpo also comes back into the team to replace Pascal Struijk who misses out with a hip injury. Mateusz Klich is the other Whites player to drop out of the XI and on to the bench.

Bamford and Ayling have not featured since the 1-1 draw at Newcastle United on September 17, Bamford sidelined with an ankle injury and Ayling needing a minor surgical procedure to clean up his knee.

But both stepped out for United's under-23s against Manchester City last Monday night, Bamford playing the full duration of the contest and Ayling taking in the first half.

Struijk is missing having been taken off during the half-time interval of Tuesday night's 1-0 win at home to Crystal Palace with a hip issue.

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Joe Gelhardt is also not involved after picking up a dead leg in Friday night's 3-1 defeat against Leicester City at York.

BACK TO BACKS: Leeds United's players check out the Elland Road pitch for their second home game in the space of five days, this time against Brentford. Picture by Tony Johnson.BACK TO BACKS: Leeds United's players check out the Elland Road pitch for their second home game in the space of five days, this time against Brentford. Picture by Tony Johnson.
BACK TO BACKS: Leeds United's players check out the Elland Road pitch for their second home game in the space of five days, this time against Brentford. Picture by Tony Johnson.

Robin Koch is still absent but the German international is working his way towards a return from surgery in the USA to repair small damage to his pubis area.

For Brentford, Frank Onyeka drops to the bench and Toney misses out altogether as Shandon Baptiste and Mads Roerslev both start as part of two changes made by boss Thomas Frank who already had key players missing.

David Raya, Josh DaSilva, Kristoffer Ajer and Mathias Jorgensen all remain out.

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Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling, Cooper, Llorente, Firpo, Phillips, Forshaw, Dallas, Raphinha, James, Roberts. Subs: Klaesson, Shackleton, Cresswell, Jenkins, Summerville, Klich, Harrison, Rodrigo, Bamford.

Brentford: Fernández; Goode, Jansson, Pinnock; Roerslev, Baptiste, Janelt, Nørgaard, Henry; Mbeumo, Canós. Subs: Cox, Thompson, Jensen, Forss, Wissa, Ghoddos, Onyeka, Stevens, Young-Coombes.

Referee: David Coote.

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