Daniel Farke to axe Junior Firpo, Patrick Bamford decision made – Leeds United predicted XI v Plymouth
Daniel Farke could be set to make two changes to his Leeds United starting XI to face Plymouth Argyle at Home Park on Saturday 17 February.
The Whites will be taking on Plymouth for the third time this calendar year having triumphed over them in the FA Cup fourth-round replay (6 February) in a rampant 4-1 win.
Leeds enter this contest off the back of their seventh successive Championship win in midweek – a 4-0 win over Swansea City – which meant they usurped Southampton in the automatic promotion place but both the Saints and Ipswich Town have a game in hand on the Whites.
Farke’s men will be in search of yet another win at Home Park on Saturday (17 February) and the German coach could make two changes to his side with Junior Firpo dropping out while Patrick Bamford, who dropped out of the starting eleven a few minutes before kick-off after injury may not be fit to start.
Undisputed number one goalkeeper Illan Meslier will be expected to keep his place in goal after a rather quiet and comfortable evening on Tuesday evening.
The defence could remain the same but for a change at left-back with Firpo dropping out for Connor Roberts.
The 27-year-old full-back has suffered a number of fitness and injury issues in recent weeks and there’s a belief that Farke may not want to overload him with games in a short span of days so new signing Roberts could yet come in trialling at left-back with Sam Byram out injured.
Archie Gray should remain at right-back after grabbing an impressive assist in Wales.
Ethan Ampadu should continue on at centre-back alongside Joe Rodon with the two keeping four successive league clean sheets together at and Farke won’t want to disrupt such a fruitful new partnership with Pascal Struijk still weeks away from a return.
In midfield, Glen Kamara should continue in the starting eleven partnering once again with Ilia Gruev who has been excellent since his emergence in the team in recent weeks.
Daniel Farke facing Patrick Bamford dilemma for Plymouth clash
In attack, Crycensio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto were the stars of the show in Wales and will certainly keep their place in yet another crucial encounter for the Whites.
Leeds United have been boosted by the return of Dan James to the matchday squad in midweek but should start from the bench again against Plymouth.
Georginio Rutter should continue in his starring number ten role but Farke has a decision to make upfront, after Bamford’s freak injury before the Swansea win.
Joel Piroe returned to goalscoring form against his former team and given the uncertainty surrounding Bamford’s availability for Saturday afternoon’s clash, Farke could yet keep him in the starting eleven.
In other Leeds news, a reliable journalist shares why a first-team player missed the Swansea clash after Daniel Farke comments.
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