Joel Piroe and Sam Byram axed by Daniel Farke – Predicted Leeds United XI v Southampton
Daniel Farke could be set to make two changes to his Leeds United starting lineup for their final Championship clash of the season against Southampton at Elland Road on Saturday 4 May.
The Whites crashed to a 4-0 defeat at Loftus Road against QPR on Friday 26 April, leaving automatic promotion out of their hands as they trail Ipswich by three points in the table heading into this game.
But Farke will demand a reaction from his team to ensure a positive mood if they head into the playoffs, where Southampton could be a potential opponent at Wembley later this month, and that should see him shuffle his team slightly.
Daniel Farke to go back to first-choice Leeds defence?
Illan Meslier will undoubtedly start in goal despite conceding seven goals in his last two games, but Farke is likely to change things in front of him to go with a more preferred set of players.
Much of this season has seen Junior Firpo and Archie Gray line up as full-backs and while the 18-year-old has started recent games in his natural midfield position, a return to the back seems likely with Sam Byram dropping out of the team and Connor Roberts unlikely to be available.
Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu remain the first-choice options in defence in Pascal Struijk’s absence, with the likelihood of Liam Cooper or Charlie Cresswell getting a rare start highly improbable.
With Gray moving into defence alongside Ampadu, that should open the door for Glen Kamara to return to midfield alongside Ilia Gruev to offer a perfect balance of attack and defence in the heart of the pitch.
Crysencio Summerville was named Championship Player of the season for his performances and Leeds will need him back to his best to find success at the business end of the campaign, so he will continue on the left.
On the right, Wilfried Gnonto has been one of the better performers in recent games and with Daniel James ruled out he will start again, with Georginio Rutter looking to play through some bad form in the number ten role.
Up front, £10million-plus summer signing Joel Piroe has been struggling in recent months and Farke admitted that he would have preferred to have Patrick Bamford available against QPR after a knee injury ruled him out. But the former England international is expected to be fit for this one, so should go straight into the side.
In other Leeds news, one Leicester City star has taken a brutal swipe at the Whites and Georginio Rutter on social media.
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