Dan James nowhere to be seen, changes galore – Leeds United starting XI v Millwall
Daniel Farke has followed up on his promise of multiple changes as Leeds United host Millwall in the FA Cup on Saturday.
The United boss made clear in his pre-match press conference that rotations would be made for the fourth-round clash at Elland Road, which is sandwiched between two midweek Championship fixtures.
Coming just four days after Farke’s side dispatched Coventry City 2-0 away from home and three days before another away trip at Watford, a whopping 10 changes made by the German are hardly surprising.
Ethan Ampadu is the player retained in the starting XI from Wednesday’s victory at the CBS Arena, with several youngsters and lesser-spotted stars given the chance to impress.
Daniel Farke rings changes for Leeds United v Millwall
The Peacocks named their team to face the Lions on X (8 February), with Dan James and Joe Rodon headlining the list of absentees rested for this fourth-round fixture.
With Ampadu the only player keeping his place, he’s joined in the United rearguard by Sam Byram, Isaac Schmidt and the fit-again Pascal Struijk, with Karl Darlow replacing Illan Meslier between the sticks.
Joe Rothwell returns in midfield to play alongside Josuha Guilavogui – making only his second start – with Largie Ramazani and Willy Gnonto both back in the XI and a full debut given to Sam Chambers.
The attacking trio of Gnonto, Ramazani and Chambers will provide a foil for Mateo Joseph up front, who makes a rare start ahead of Joel Piroe – named on the bench with seven other regular first-teamers.
Leeds United priorities clear after starting XI announcement
While matches between the Whites and Millwall are never dull affairs with nothing riding on them, progression in the FA Cup pales in importance when it comes to United’s main priority at the moment.
Promotion to the Premier League – ideally automatically given their usual play-off outcomes – is the only task for Farke this season, and he needs his side to be fit and firing for the run-in.
With just 15 matches left to go in the Championship and a lengthy trip to Watford quickly coming into view, you’d struggle to find a Whites fan who would rather beat Millwall than the Hornets next week.
A home loss to one of their modern-day rivals in any competition is never ideal, but with this match meaning far less to United than it does for Millwall, double-figures worth of changes comes as no great shock.