Daniel Farke has big Ramazani decision to make at Leeds
Largie Ramazani will feel a point to prove with FA Cup football back on the horizon with Leeds United.
The summer signing from Almeria has shown excellent bursts of talent since his arrival but has found a starting berth rare under Daniel Farke, purely due to the vast array of attacking quality bursting the team at the seams.
Millwall are familiar visitors to Elland Road but on Saturday’s occasion (8 February) there is a different prize at stake, with Leeds potentially able to forge a cup run with several players pushing for a chance to showcase their ability and remind Farke of his dormant selection headache.
Largie Ramazani should start v Millwall
On Ramazani’s last start, he helped advance Leeds through to the fourth round of the FA Cup, setting up Saturday’s tie – a pulsating one for the supporters with the packed-out crowds always lively.
That came against Harrogate Town (11 January) of League Two and of course Farke’s men were hotly expected to overcome Simon Weaver’s Yorkshire neighbours, but the 23-year-old netted the winner and ran the show in large periods.
Ramazani followed that up with a goal off the bench against Sheffield Wednesday in the forthcoming league contest, using his eight-minute cameo to thunder home a superb finish which attracted the attention of his former Manchester United teammate Scott McTominay.
Farke cannot be blamed for refusing to bench the likes of Dan James, Manor Solomon and Joel Piroe – they have been unstoppable of late, exhibited by the fact the last two outings against Cardiff and Coventry were done and dusted by the time Ramazani was given a runout.
But now, the manager is tasked with finding a balance between maintaining momentum and reaching the last 16 of the cup, and giving game time to players on the periphery who deserve a longer opportunity. Belgian live wire Ramazani is possibly the first player on the list in that particular category.
Leeds United looking to avoid upset
Should Leeds beat Alex Neil’s Millwall side on Saturday, they will progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup for the third successive season.
However, the Whites only reached the final 16 on three of the last 22 attempts prior to that. A cup run would only add to the excitement of the promotion push, and give Farke an opportunity to rotate his side with some of the Championship’s best players still consigned to the bench.
Ramazani is one of them – he would start in every other Championship starting XI, and when your club spends eight figures on a player in the second tier, matches like that of this weekend must see him provided with a chance to prove his worth.