Leeds United v West Ham United team news: Pablo Hernandez and Jamie Shackleton make Whites returns
RECORD signing Rodrigo makes his first start since October as Marcelo Bielsa makes the one change to his Leeds United side for Friday night's Premier League clash against West Ham United at Elland Road.
Bielsa revealed in Thursday's pre-match press conference that Spanish international centre-back Diego Llorente was suffering from a muscular issue having replaced the injured Robin Koch at centre-back in the ninth minute of last weekend's 3-1 loss at Chelsea.
Koch is facing around three months out having undergone surgery on a knee issue and is replaced by Rodrigo as the only change as part of a reshuffle by Bielsa to his side.
The Whites head coach named his team at Thursday's press conference with Luke Ayling shifting over from right back to partner skipper Liam Cooper at centre-back in the absence of both Koch and Llorente.
Rodrigo tested positive for coronavirus at the start of November but has featured in United's last three games from the bench and will now start in the no 10 role which has been filled by Mateusz Klich of late who will now drop back into a deeper position in midfield.
Stuart Dallas and Gjanni Alioski will fill the full back roles with Kalvin Phillips in the holding midfield position with Jack Harrison and Raphinha on the flanks.
Patrick Bamford once again leads the line upfront.
Pablo Hernandez and Jamie Shackleton are now back available for selection after muscle problems and both return to the bench to take the places of Llorente and Rodrigo while Adam Forshaw (hip) and Gaetano Berardi (knee) are longer term absentees.
Hammers boss David Moyes has made one change to his side with Said Benrahma making his first start for the club in replacing Arthur Masuaku who misses out.
Striker Michail Antonio is absent with a hamstring problem as Sebastien Haller continues up front.
Leeds United: Meslier, Dallas, Ayling, Cooper, Alioski, Phillips, Klich, Raphinha, Harrison, Rodrigo, Bamford. Subs: Casilla, Struijk, Costa, Shackleton, Costa, Roberts, Hernandez, Poveda.
West Ham United: Fabianski, Coufal, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals, Haller. Subs: Randolph, Fredericks, Johnson, Dawson, Noble, Snodgrass, Lanzini.
Referee: Michael Oliver.
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Thank you Laura Collins