Daniel Farke’s side returned to the top of the Championship with Wednesday night’s 3-0 win at home to Luton Town but Farke then revealed a fresh injury worry concerning full-back Sam Byram. The defender was taken off for Max Wober midway through the second half and then sent for scans on a hamstring injury. Farke, though, was optimistic of having the versatile full-back available for the clash at Ewood Park for which another Whites player is definitely back. Left back Junior Firpo has now finished serving his three-match ban for his headbutt on Millwall’s Danny McNamara in this month’s 1-0 defeat at The Den. Byram had been deputising for Firpo at left back in his absence. Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev remain out injured with knee injuries whilst Isaac Schmidt has only just returned to training after hernia surgery. But Farke has other big selection headaches, not least with his front four following an impressive bench impact from Dan James in Wednesday night’s win against the Hatters. Largie Ramazani is also now back in the mix but not yet an option to start following his recovery from an ankle injury. With James only making the bench, Willy Gnonto, Manor Solomon, Brenden Aaronson and Joel Piroe filled the front four positions against Luton. Leeds are now heading for their third game in six days at Blackburn and this is the XI that we think will step out at Ewood Park.
7. CM: Joe Rothwell
Another impressive signing and all set to start against the club for whom he played 161 games for. The centre midfield picks itself, for now at least. Photo: George Wood
8. RW: Dan James
It's difficult to call how Farke will play it with his front four given both the huge competition for places and the prospect of a third game in six days. But James surely deserves a place back in the XI and the winger should be pretty fresh after his bench outing against Luton. The second change. Photo: Lewis Storey
9. LW: Willy Gnonto
Another hard one to call as Tottenham loanee Manor Solomon looks like he is now getting into a good rhythm and as such it might be that Gnonto drops to the bench and not Solomon on the assumption that James come in. Or Gnonto could be shifted to play as a no 10 with Brenden Aaronson dropping to the bench. A hard call and likely a very close one but Solomon is the only winger yet to be rested this week and that might sway it. Photo: Lewis Storey
10. ACM: Brenden Aaronson
It's not quite happening for Aaronson at the moment in terms of end product and a swap for Gnonto at no 10 must at least be a possibility. But that would be a big change to the dynamic of the front four and Farke labelled Aaronson as crucial in the aftermath of victory against Luton, His energy and running is never in doubt and the gut feeling is that Farke will give him another outing in the 10 role. Photo: Zac Goodwin
11. ST: Joel Piroe
No Piroe no party. The Dutchman bagged his second start on the spin against Luton and might now record a quick third in succession although it will probably be another close call between him and Piroe, with Patrick Bamford the other option. Photo: Ryan Hiscott