Boss Daniel Farke handed a full league debut to summer signing Jayden Bogle in Saturday’s Championship opener at home to Portsmouth in which 20-year-old striker Mateo Joseph was finally handed a first league start. Joe Rodon also made his first Whites start as a permanent Leeds player following his £10m summer switch from Tottenham Hotspur whilst Joe Rothwell, a new loan signing from Bournemouth, got his Leeds debut from the bench as a second-half substitute. A rollercoaster affair which Leeds dominated ended in a 3-3 draw and Farke now has some interesting decisions to make as his team take in three games in less than seven days.
The first round draw for the Carabao Cup served up a visit of Championship rivals Middlesbrough in a game moved to an 8pm kick-off on Wednesday night for coverage on Sky Sports. Farke’s team then face a very tight turnaround before the return to league action at West Brom in a Saturday 12.30pm kick-off at The Hawthorns. There is much for Farke to ponder and this is the XI that we think the German will send out against Boro.
7. CM: Joe Rothwell
The new loan signing from Bournemouth looks a banker bet to be now given his first start, probably just a case of who partners him out of Ampadu, Ilia Gruev or Crew. Photo: Stu Forster
8. LW: Brenden Aaronson
Surely another obvious starter after Saturday's very eventful turn of events from the bench, just a case of whether he plays out wide or as a no 10. Photo: Gary Oakley
9. RW: Dan James
A toss-up between James and Gnonto for the other wing place assuming Aaronson starts out wide although Farke could opt to give Georginio Rutter a go on the wing or even Joe Gelhardt. James, though, who seems to thrive on busy schedules, might be the call. Photo: Stu Forster
10. ACM: Joel Piroe
Piroe was another player brought on from the bench against Pompey and Wednesday's cup tie looks an obvious opening, probably in the no 10 role. Photo: Ben Roberts Photo
11. ST: Patrick Bamford
Bamford looked rusty on his return to competitive action as a second-half sub against Portsmouth and clearly needs minutes so it seems likely that he could start against his former side Boro. Photo: Stu Forster