Jaidon Anthony makes first start as Liam Cooper and Dan James axed – Leeds United confirmed starting XI vs QPR
Daniel Farke’s confirmed Leeds United XI for the visit of Queens Park Rangers to Elland Road has been released by the club.
Jaidon Anthony has come in for Dan James, with the Bournemouth loanee making his full debut for the club after impressing off the bench, while captain Liam Cooper is dropped for the return of Joe Rodon.
Luke Ayling comes back in at right back with Jamie Shackleton sacrificed, while Archie Gray also returns in place of Glen Kamara as Farke makes four changes from the defeat at Southampton.
Otherwise the team remains the same, with Illan Meslier in goal, Pascal Struijk the other centre-back and Sam Byram on the left.
Ethan Ampadu starts in the centre of midfield as usual, while Crysencio Summerville keeps his place on the opposite wing from Anthony and Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter stay in attack.
Rebound
The defeat last time out at Southampton may have dampened the enthusiasm around the Whites somewhat but doesn’t need to be a hammer blow of they get back on the horse against Gareth Ainsworth’s side.
With the Saints struggling so badly and Leeds United flying high after an excellent win over Watford it seemed certain that another win was on the cards, but Farke saw a slip up coming as he warned in his pre-match press conference, but couldn’t prevent it all the same.
He will be far more worried if he is unable to effect a response in front of the home fans in the midweek game against another struggling side, with QPR coming into the match inside the bottom three.
The likelihood is therefore that the Whites will be faced by another low block which they have found difficult to break down more than once this season.
An attacking unit that boasts some of the best options in the division has shown what it can do at its best in some of the recent victories, but in order to truly do its job and push Leeds back towards the Premier League they are going to need to score goals when they aren’t afforded space.
On paper this is the perfect opportunity to overcome the loss at the weekend, but on paper that loss shouldn’t have happened either so fans will be wary of another set back.
In other Leeds United news, one Whites player has been tipped to see the club abandon their previous transfer plans.