Daniel Farke names Leeds United team vs Chelsea with new formation decision and star's return

Leeds United team news is in for this evening’s clash against title-chasing Chelsea under the Elland Road lights.

Whites boss Daniel Farke has named his Leeds United team for Wednesday evening’s Premier League clash against title-chasing Chelsea with four changes and a new formation decision.

Farke’s four changes mean a new 3-5-2 system as Gabriel Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the back-from-injury Anton Stach all come into the XI.

Ilia Gruev, James Justin and Willy Gnonto drop to the bench whilst the injured Dan James misses out altogether.

Farke made five changes to his team for Saturday’s trip to Manchester City as James, Gnonto, Gruev, Ao Tanaka and Justin all came into the side.

But further changes were forthcoming with Leeds 2-0 down during the half-time break as Bijol and Calvert-Lewin replaced Gnonto and James as Farke moved to a 3-5-2 formation.

The changes sparked a brilliant comeback, albeit one which ended in a 3-2 defeat, leaving Farke with a big decision to make for this evening’s visit of Chelsea.

Four days on, Farke has gone with three at the back to start with.

At least one change was guaranteed with winger James suffering a hamstring tendon injury in Saturday’s defeat at City which is expected to leave him facing two months out, possibly longer if requiring surgery.

James joins midfielder Sean Longstaff on the sidelines, Longstaff suffering a calf injury in the previous weekend’s 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa and expected to be facing four to six weeks out.

Farke, though, was able to welcome back fellow centre-midfielder Stach for this evening’s visit of Chelsea after the German missed the Etihad contest due to concussion protocols after landing awkwardly in the game against Villa.

Stach now comes straight back into the side as Gruev, Justin and Gnonto drop to the bench and the injured James misses out altogether.

Belgian international defender Sebastiaan Bornauw (MCL) and keeper Karl Darlow (minor adductor issue) also both missed out at City but the pair returned to training ahead of Chelsea’s visit and both now make the bench.

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

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