Willy Gnonto and Luke Ayling to start, Archie Gray to make debut – Leeds United predicted XI v Cardiff City
Daniel Farke could hand out two debuts as Leeds United take on Cardiff at Elland Road in the opening Championship game of the season on Sunday (6 August).
The Whites have had a busy summer with eight first-team players heading for the exit, while Ethan Ampadu and Karl Darlow have arrived on permanent deals to ease the load on the rest of the squad.
But the new manager has some decisions to make for his first serious starting line up as boss, with the Whites looking to get off to the best possible start to the season in front of the home crowd.
His first big decision will be who plays in goal after the arrival of Darlow, but with Illan Meslier still very much part of the squad as it stands.
The French stopper is expected to leave this summer but there have so far been no bids for his services and he has played regularly in pre-season, making him the favourite to get the nod between the sticks in the opening game.
In defence Cody Drameh has returned to the first-team and impressed in pre-season at right-back, but the experience of Luke Ayling is still there and Farke seems more likely to opt for that for now.
At left-back Junior Firpo is expected to leave once he recovers from injury, and at the time of writing Sam Byram is not registered as a Leeds player so can’t feature despite playing in pre-season. That leaves a straight shootout between Leo Hjelde and Pascal Struijk, with the Dutch defender likely to be picked.
In the middle captain Liam Cooper has established himself as a key player, while youngster Charlie Cresswell penned a new contract after receiving assurances of playing regularly and he will start alongside the skipper.
New signing Ampadu has cemented himself as the first-choice central midfielder for the upcoming season since his transfer from Chelsea, but his partner is likely to be getting his debut too.
Teenager Archie Gray has been fantastic in pre-season and looks to be the choice ahead of Darko Gyabi, Sam Greenwood and Jamie Shackleton while Tyler Adams continues to recover from a hamstring injury suffered last season.
The attack has been linked with plenty of change this summer but so far only Rodrigo and Brenden Aaronson have departed Elland Road, meaning there are plenty of strong options for Farke to choose from.
Luis Sinisterra will stay at Leeds and should start in his favoured right-wing role, while Crysencio Summerville is still at the club and could get the nod behind the striker. Wilfried Gnonto has been heavily linked with an exit but the club are determined to keep him, and he should be the man to start on the left.
Up front Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter both suffered injuries in the final pre-season game, which could leave a place for young Mateo Joseph to get a very rare start.