Daniel Farke gets it right with Archie Gray risk in Leeds United XI vs Leicester City
Daniel Farke has risked disrupting his Leeds United side after altering the starting XI which blew away Huddersfield Town last weekend, but he was right to do so.
The German has dropped Jamie Shackleton from the squad entirely and brought in teenage favourite Archie Gray again at right-back for the game at Leicester City.
With the Foxes 14-points ahead of the Whites at this stage already and flying high at the top of the league Farke had to go for his strongest options throughout the starting XI.
Having utilised 17-year-old Gray extensively throughout the campaign so far he has made it clear beyond any doubt that he rates the homegrown youngster as one of the most important players in his squad.
So, with the teenager only dropping out last weekend thanks to an extremely heavy workload through October it is right to bring him back for the clash at the King Power, even if there is a risk of upsetting the momentum from the Terriers win.
Shackleton, unless he has picked up an unexpected injury between Farke’s pre-match press conference and kick-off, can count himself unlucky to drop out.
The converted wide man has filled in admirably at both full-back spots this season, and has hardly put a foot wrong so far, but his versatility potentially counts against him in that he always feels like a fill-in option.
Gray is himself playing out of position in the back line having been a regular next to Ethan Ampadu in central midfield from the start of the season.
But with Glen Kamara emerging as a very strong alternative in the centre of the park Farke has decided to use Gray at right-back over Luke Ayling, who has struggled for form with Djed Spence out injured.
The manager sprung a surprise by putting the youngster in a new role against Bristol City on 7 October and felt it worked well, and has kept him there in every appearance since.
The proof will come in practice once the whistle blows at 8pm but the Leeds United boss had to go with his strongest XI, and it looks like he has done that.
In other Leeds United news, an unhappy player has “reformed” after his failed switch to Elland Road as he targets a £2.6million move in January.