Boss Daniel Farke has already taken the unusual step of revealing that there will be a change between the sticks as Karl Darlow replaces Illan Meslier in goal. Meslier’s place in the team came under more scrutiny after another bad blunder in last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Swansea City, despite the Frenchman making an earlier penalty save. Despite Meslier’s blunder leading to Swansea equalising, Willy Gnonto’s late strike within one minute of coming off the bench looked to have given Leeds all three points. Gnonto had been pushing for a start but suffered an ankle injury on international duty with Italy’s under-21s and Brenden Aaronson again took his place in the no 10 role. Instead, the two changes to the team saw another two players who had been away on international duty in Ao Tanaka and Junior Firpo drop to the bench as fit again captain Ethan Ampadu and Sam Byram came into the XI. Farke, though, revealed on Thursday that Tanaka and Firpo were both now fully fit to start as part of a complete clean bill of health for his squad. Patrick Bamford and Max Wober are also back in the mix after recovering from their injuries. Last weekend’s draw against Swansea has left Leeds two points behind leaders Sheffield United and only ahead of third-placed Burnley on goal difference. But Saturday’s clash at second-bottom Luton now presents a huge chance to kick on again. Despite having already confirmed the Darlow decision, there is plenty for Farke to ponder and this is the XI that we think will step out at Kenilworth Road.
7. CM: Ao Tanaka
A hard call between Tanaka, Ilia Gruev and Joe Rothwell for the second centre midfield spot, assuming Ampadu starts there too. Tanaka dropped to the bench against Swansea as Ampadu made his return but Tanaka having been away on international duty in a different time zone with Japan was a factor. Gruev, meanwhile, often gets the call for away games but the feeling would be that Tanaka now partners Ampadu in the middle. Photo: Richard Heathcote
8. RW: Dan James
Largie Ramazani is pushing for a start out wide but James and Manor Solomon have been in fine form of late and a change seems most unlikely. Photo: Cameron Howard
9. LW: Manor Solomon
The Tottenham loanee star has not been at his best in recent games but the same applies to plenty of his teammates and it seems likely that he will start again out wide despite competition from Ramazani. Photo: Cameron Howard
10. ACM: Brenden Aaronson
Willy Gnonto might well have started in the no 10 role against Swansea but for his ankle injury but Aaronson again got the nod and scored within 35 seconds. Gnonto also scored within seconds of finally coming on for Dan James in the 85th minute and it will be fascinating to see who now starts in the position but Farke has been very loyal to Aaronson and the gut feeling is that he will get the nod again. Photo: Cameron Howard
11. ST: Joel Piroe
Piroe has now gone five games without a goal having previously scored five in five but he remains the clear fist choice striker who is still second in the Golden Boot race. Patrick Bamford is now back in the mix whilst Mateo Joseph remains another option but it would be a big surprise if there was a change up tops. Photo: Cameron Howard