Star finally returns and huge attacking calls as Daniel Farke names Leeds United team vs Aston Villa

Whites boss Daniel Farke has named his Leeds United team for this afternoon’s huge return to Premier League action against Aston Villa at Elland Road for which a star returns.

Italian international winger Willy Gnonto has not made a matchday squad since September, since when the attacker has been sidelined with calf issues before then having minor hernia surgery during the October international break.

Gnonto had since returned to training but again failed to make the bench in the 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest before the international break as Farke again went with Brenden Aaronson and Noah Okafor for the wing slots.

Farke said afterwards that he did not want to take the risk with Gnonto but the Italian now makes the bench as Farke makes just one change to his side which sees Pascal Struijk replace the benched Jaka Bijol in defence.

Lukas Nmecha keeps his place upfront as Dominic Calvert-Lewin stays on the bench which also again features Dan James as Brenden Aaronson and Noah Okafor again get the nod out wide.

Farke was able to issue the welcome team news of having every player fit and available to him at Friday’s pre-match press conference.

Belgian international defender Sebastiaan Bornauw had been the only Whites absentee, the 26-year-old having suffered a hit to his MCL ahead of the 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest before the international break.

Bornauw, though, fails to make the matchday squad.

Calvert-Lewin, meanwhile, had been a doubt for the trip to Forest with an adductor strain but made the bench and was brought on in the second half.

Calvert-Lewin and midfielder Ao Tanaka had dropped out of the side as the two changes to the team at Forest as Nmecha and Anton Stach both came into the XI.

Farke also kept summer centre-back signing Bijol alongside Joe Rodon at the heart of the defence as Struijk sat on the bench for the third game in a row.

Leeds, though, again failed to keep a clean sheet, something they have not done since August, and Farke’s Whites had just a solitary Nmecha strike to show for their efforts at the other end as they suffered a 3-1 defeat.

Calvert-Lewin, Struijk, Dan James, Joel Piroe and Jack Harrison were eventually all brought on in the second half and James in particular has since impressed on international duty with Wales.

Farke, though, warned at Friday’s pre-match press conference that it would take time for both James and Gnonto to find their full rhythm and sharpness after time out with injuries.

Leeds United vs Aston Villa: Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Ampadu, Longstaff, Stach; Okafor, Aaronson, Nmecha. Subs: Darlow, Justin, Bijol, Gruev, Tanaka, Gnonto, James, Piroe, Calvert-Lewin.