Leeds United v Watford team news - one change on Diego Llorente's Whites return

Diego Llorente returns to the Leeds United starting line up for Saturday afternoon's Premier League clash against Watford at Elland Road.
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Spanish international centre-back Llorente is back fit having missed United's last three games due to a muscular injury suffered in last month's 3-0 defeat at home to Liverpool.

The Spaniard now comes back into the side to replace Charlie Cresswell and partner captain Liam Cooper at centre back but Jack Harrison has to make do with a place on the bench, as does the returning Pascal Struijk.

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Struijk was shown a straight-red card against Liverpool and is now back available having served a three-game ban but only returns to the bench.

Winger Harrison has recently been sidelined having tested positive for Covid-19 but returned as a second-half substitute in last weekend's 2-1 loss at home to West Ham.

But Dan James keeps his place out wide on the opposite flank to Raphinha who was taken off in the second half against the Hammers after struggling to continue following a week in which he had recovered from a hip injury.

Patrick Bamford, Luke Ayling, Robin Koch and Adam Forshaw all remain out injured and there is no Crysencio Summerville on the bench.

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Record signing Rodrigo again leads the line up front, ahead of Mateusz Klich in the no 10 role as Shackleton fills in for Ayling at right back.

Leeds United centre-back Diego Llorente. Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images.Leeds United centre-back Diego Llorente. Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images.
Leeds United centre-back Diego Llorente. Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images.

Watford boss Xisco Munoz has named an unchanged side that includes Premier League player of the month nominee Ismaila Sarr who is set to face Whites left back Junior Firpo down the right flank.

Leeds United: Meslier, Shackleton, Llorente, Cooper (c), Firpo, Phillips, Dallas, Klich, Raphinha, James, Rodrigo. Subs: Klaesson, Cresswell, Hjelde, Struijk, McKinstry, Harrison, Greenwood, Gelhardt, Roberts.

Watford: Foster; Femenia, Sierralta, Troost-Ekong, Rose; Kucka, Sissoko, Tufan; Sarr, Dennis, King. Subs: Bachmann, Ngakia, Cleverley, Pedro, Masina, Sema, Gosling, Kabasele, Hernandez.

Referee: Simon Hooper.

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