Daniel Farke to start ‘ludicrous’ Patrick Bamford in four changes – Leeds United predicted XI v West Brom
Daniel Farke is predicted to make four changes to his Leeds United starting XI to face West Brom at The Hawthorns on Friday 29 December.
The Whites head into the clash with Carlos Corberan’s side off the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Preston North End on Boxing Day and changes are expected as Leeds look to get back to winning ways.
Between Christmas and the New Year, the games come thick and fast in the Championship and Farke has suggested he may have to rotate his side and that could start by axing Dan James, Illan Meslier, Joel Piroe and Archie Gray.
Meslier will have to miss the clash with the Baggies after he was sent off in the second half of the defeat to Preston on Boxing Day, allowing Karl Darlow to make his first Championship start since arriving from Newcastle United in the summer.
While Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon were nowhere near their best at Deepdale, both will continue at the heart of the Leeds United defence given their impressive performances across the season so far, but the full-backs on either side of them will be rotated.
Gray has impressed out of position this season but struggled on Boxing Day, only winning two of his 11 ground duels in the contest and Farke will likely take the 17-year-old out of the firing line and instead start Djed Spence in his preferred role as a right-back [Fotmob].
That will leave the left-back position open for Sam Byram to make his return from injury. The 30-year-old has been excellent this season and after he was named on the bench against Preston, he should be ready to slot back in next to Struijk.
Farke has been reluctant to alter his defensive midfield pairing too often this season and therefore he is expected to start both Glen Kamara and Ethan Ampadu again at The Hawthorns, even though the Finnish international in particular struggled against Ryan Lowe’s side.
When Meslier was sent off, it was Piroe who was hooked for Darlow to make his introduction and the Dutchman may well remain on the bench for Friday’s clash and Patrick Bamford will be the man to replace him in the attacking midfield role.
The 30-year-old is yet to start a game this season and was labelled “ludicrous” by Andy Hinchcliffe following his performance against Ipswich Town [Sky Sports, 23 December], but may be preferred given Piroe’s dire display at Deepdale.
Crysencio Summerville has made himself undroppable on the left flank, but Wilfried Gnonto will almost certainly replace James on the right wing after the Welsh international was wasteful in the final third once again on Boxing Day.
That will leave Georginio Rutter up top once again to lead the line. The Frenchman like many on Tuesday afternoon was far from his best, but he has been incredible throughout the campaign so far and when he’s fit, Farke tends to start him regardless of his form.
In other Leeds United news, Dean Jones has shared his verdict on a “luxury” January transfer into Elland Road