Leeds United will finally return to action with Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at West Ham - and this is how we think the Whites will line up.
Sunday’s 4.30pm kick-off at the London Stadium will present United’s first game back after the two-week break for the March internationals, during which Leeds had a dozen players representing their countries on senior international duty.
Leeds signed off for the two-week break with the goalless draw at home to Premier League visitors Brentford on Saturday, March 21, for which boss Daniel Farke made just the one change to his side as the suspended Gabriel Gudmundsson was replaced by Jayden Bogle.
Star left back Gudmundsson is now back available from his one-game ban for Sunday’s quarter-final, ahead of which Farke has some huge decisions to make as his men battle for Premier League survival amid their strong FA Cup run.
The Whites boss has made big changes to his team in every round so far but will that still be the case with the lure of an FA Cup semi-final on offer? Then there are injury issues to contend with.
There’s a lot to consider and it’s a difficult call but this is ultimately the XI that we think Farke will go with against the Irons.
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7. CM: Ethan Ampadu
Another of the club's star men, the captain no less, and another where the 'risk' factor would have to be considered but Ampadu is a big game player who played the full duration of the fifth round clash against Norwich City and Sunday's quarter-final will be right up his street. Will relish the chance to lead his team to FA Cup semi-final. | Getty Images
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8. CM: Ao Tanaka
Another player who will be on the crest of a wave following a very good international break for Japan what with their 1-0 win at Wembley in which Tanaka got second-half minutes from the bench. Minutes for Leeds this season have been less forthcoming but with a start at West Ham should be in the offing, particularly with a slight question mark over whether Anton Stach will be risked following a hip issue this week. | Getty Images
9. CM: Sean Longstaff
It might be that Stach starts and Ilia Gruev is the other main midfield option but Longstaff started the fourth round game at Birmingham and fifth round clash against Norwich in which he scored and it should be remembered that he was a regular in the XI at the start of the season before injury. A good chance he will be back in the team at West Ham. | Getty Images
10. ACM/ST: Brenden Aaronson
Joel Piroe appears an obvious call for Sunday's quarter-final, the Dutchman having started the fifth round clash against Norwich in a front two with Lukas Nmecha and it might be same again on that front but Aaronson's energy might give him the call with Piroe waiting for his chance from the bench in addition to Noah Okafor who has only just returned from injury. | Getty Images
11. ST: Lukas Nmecha
Nmecha looks a near certainty to start upfront amid the doubts about Whites no 9 Dominic Calvert-Lewin who has experienced a hamstring problem in training this week which led to him being sent for a precautionary scan. Even if the issue is minor as his hoped, surely he won't be risked with the final seven games of the Premier League survival bid in mind and Nmecha has already proved a more than able understudy. Calvert-Lewin was not seen in a training video released by Leeds United club media on Saturday and surely the call will be that he misses out. | Getty Images