Whites boss Daniel Farke has named an unchanged XI for United’s last two games in which the Whites have picked up just one point via Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Coventry City which followed the midweek 1-0 reverse at Sunderland.
The one-point return has left Leeds ten points behind Saturday’s visitors Ipswich in the Championship’s second automatic promotion place and 13 points adrift of leaders Leicester City. The Whites are also now level on points with fourth-placed Southampton.
Farke still has three players out injured in Sam Byram (hamstring), Jamie Shackleton (glute) and longer term absentee Stuart Dallas (femoral fracture) – all of whom are full back options – but the Whites boss confirmed at Thursday’s pre-match press conference that two players were now back in the mix.
Left back Junior Firpo had returned to training last week upon his recovery from a hamstring injury but Saturday’s visit of Coventry arrived too soon for him to be involved. But Farke confirmed on Thursday that Firpo is now an option against Ipswich in addition to Ian Poveda who has now returned from international duty with Colombia, back “with a smile on his face” as he put it.
Victory against Ipswich would be a significant boost to third-placed United’s automatic promotion prospects and this is the XI that we think Farke will send out against the Tractor Boys.
7. CM: Glen Kamara
Putting Archie Gray back in midfield is the obvious alternative and Ilia Gruev will likely get a go from the outset at some point but it's surely Kamara or Gray in the middle for this one and the gut feeling is that Farke will keep things as they are. Photo: George Wood
8. RW: Dan James
Probably the biggest attacking call and that's no slight on James who after all has bagged seven goals and four assists so far this term. It's more the fact that for a side who are continuing to squander chances there are live alternatives literally waiting in the wings in Wily Gnonto, Jaidon Anthony and Ian Poveda, possibly in that order. It might well be, however, that all three of those players again find themselves on the bench though if there is one change in the side then Gnonto for James might well be the one. Photo: George Wood
9. RW: Crysencio Summerville
Star man who already sits on ten goals and six assists. The only debate about Summerville if there is one is whether or not he should perhaps be played in a more central role, allowing someone like Gnonto in. But he's literally flying out wide and will surely be key to how Leeds fare against the Tractor Boys. Photo: George Wood
10. ACM: Joel Piroe
Patrick Bamford, Mateo Joseph and Joe Gelhardt are all other attacking options at Farke's disposal in attention to Poveda, Gnonto and Anthony but it would still be a surprise if the Whites boss changed his front two, especially after such a passionate answer asked whether it was time to "keep the faith" with his team after one point from the last two games. The debate will always rumble on about whether or not Farke should switch his front two and play Piroe as a no 9 but his long answer several weeks ago to that question seemed to declare his intent on that front. Photo: Jess Hornby
11. ST: Georginio Rutter
Creation in abundance and just needs to find his shooting boots more, as stats of nine assists but only goals this term allude to, possibly adding weight to the argument of switching Rutter and Piroe around. But Rutter's hold up play can also be impressive when he's on song and everything points to Farke keeping his as it is. Photo: Danny Lawson