Leeds United predicted XI v Preston – Mateo Joseph faces axe in two changes
Daniel Farke could be ready to once again axe Mateo Joseph in favour of Joel Piroe as Leeds United take on Preston North End this Saturday.
The clash at Deepdale [14 December] sees Leeds look to notch back ahead of Sheffield United at the top of the Championship table, having beaten Middlesbrough 3-1 on Tuesday night at Elland Road [10 December].
Joseph found goalscoring opportunities hard to come by before his withdrawal for Piroe, who has boasted a superior goals to minutes ratio so far this campaign.
Leeds United to make two changes v Preston
Farke is beginning to slowly get some options back following a series of injury setbacks to an already small squad.
Ethan Ampadu made a lovely late return with a cameo against Boro to a rapturous home crowd, but will likely not be risked to start just four days after playing six minutes with the excellent form of Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell in the centre.
Jayden Bogle was touch-and-go for midweek with a hamstring issue [LeedsLive, 10 December] but eventually missed out, as Sam Byram filled in at right-back. Should Bogle be fit to start, he will slot back in with Max Wober having performed well as a makeshift left-back. Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk will retain their partnership with Illan Meslier between the sticks. If Bogle doesn’t make the weekend, Byram has shown himself to be an assured deputy.
Out wide, Willy Gnonto returned to the starting XI with a goal against Boro to open the scoring, and he is set to be favoured ahead of Manor Solomon on the left flank with Dan James unstoppable on the right.
Brenden Aaronson added another to his tally to round off Tuesday’s victory, and he will slot in behind the striker. Where Farke has not been short of options is in attack, with Piroe again making an impact off the bench with an assist last time out.
He could be preferred this time to Joseph, who despite his constant work-rate up top has failed to score for the Whites in nearly two months. Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt are again barely getting a sniff, while Largie Ramazani is now back in the fold but unlikely to get a nod to start on Saturday.
In other Leeds news, an expected departure for an experienced member of the squad if this happens in January.
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