Star man missing after illness and big changes with six defenders in Leeds United team at Chelsea

Leeds United team news for Tuesday evening’s Premier League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Whites boss Daniel Farke has named his Leeds United team for this evening’s Premier League clash against Chelsea which features six defenders and no Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Farke said at Monday’s pre-match press conference that Calvert-Lewin had been unwell but that he was hopeful the striker would be fine to face the Blues.

The Whites no 9, though, fails to make the matchday squad, Farke making three changes to his side as striker Lukas Nmecha plus defenders Jaka Biol and Sebastiaan Bornauw come into the XI.

Pascal Struijk had already been confirmed as out injured and drops out along with Calvert-Lewin and also Noah Okafor who drops to the bench.

Struijk has started United’s last 13 league games but Farke revealed at Monday’s press conference that the centre-back would miss tonight’s game due to problems with his hip flexor on the back of Friday night’s win against Nottingham Forest.

Farke, though, has recently been able to welcome back fellow centre-half Bijol from a hamstring injury, the Slovenian international defender returning to the bench as an unused substitute for Friday night’s win against Forest.

Winger Dan James and striker Nmecha also returned from their respective injuries to make the bench against Forest, Nmecha an unused substitute but James brought on in the 78th minute for his first minutes since suffering a hamstring tendon injury in the 3-2 November’s 3-2 defeat at Manchester United.

With James and Nmecha returning, January signing Facundo Buonanotte failed to make the bench for the visit of Forest but the Brighton loanee is now back amongst the substitutes for tonight’s clash at Stamford Bridge.

Midfielder Anton Stach remains out with a hip injury although Farke is hopeful the German will be back for next weekend’s trip to Aston Villa which follows Sunday’s clash at Birmingham City in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Teenagers start in two Chelsea changes

New Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has made two changes to his side who remain without club captain Reece James. The full-back had been out with a knock and is now ill.

The two changes see teenagers Estevao and Josh Acheampong start as Pedro Neto and Wesley Fofana drop to the bench.

Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Estevao; Joao Pedro. Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Badiashile, Fofana, Sarr, Hato, Garnacho, Neto, Delap, Guiu

Leeds United: Darlow, Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Bornauw, Gudmundsson, Justin, Ampadu, Gruev, Aaronson, Nmecha. Subs: Perri, Byram, Longstaff, Tanaka, Buonanotte, James, Okafor, Gnonto, Piroe.

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