Leeds United team news is in for today’s FA Cup fourth round clash at Birmingham City.

Whites boss Daniel Farke has named his Leeds United team for Sunday’s fourth round FA Cup clash at Birmingham City, featuring a full debut as part of a strong squad.

Brighton loanee January transfer window signing Facundo Buonanotte is handed his first start for Leeds who are captained by James Justin for the first time as Ethan Ampadu drops to the bench.

That very strong bench also includes returning star Dominic Calvert-Lewin upon his recovery from illness plus the likes of Joe Rodon, Jayden Bogle and Brenden Aaronson.

There is though, no Dan James, the winger not part of the matchday squad despite having recently returned to action from his hamstring tendon injury.

Six changes to both sides

Farke has made six changes to the team that lined up for Tuesday night’s Premier League clash at Chelsea, headed by Lucas Perri replacing Karl Darlow in goal.

The other five changes see Sean Longstaff, Ao Tanaka, Willy Gnonto, Noah Okafor and Buonanotte come into the XI but Joel Piroe has to settle for another place on the bench as Lukas Nmecha again starts upfront.

Justin, Gabi Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Nmecha all start from the team that also lined up at Chelsea. Darlow, Bogle, Rodon, Ampadu and Aaronson all drop out and move to the bench.

As expected, Pascal Struijk and midfielder Anton Stach again miss out.

Farke revealed at Friday’s pre-match press conference that centre-back Struijk and midfielder Stach remained on the comeback trail from their hip injuries with neither expected to feature against the Blues.

Farke has been able to welcome back striker Calvert-Lewin from illness this week, the Whites no 9 missing Tuesday night’s Premier League draw at Chelsea due to being unwell.

No risks taken

Amid the priority of United’s ongoing quest for Premier League survival, Farke said that no player would be risked where there were any doubts and that decisions would be taken on who was ready for another game and who perhaps needed a rest. Leeds have another huge Premier League game away at Aston Villa next Saturday afternoon.

Blues boss Chris Davies has also made six changes to his Birmingham side, including handing first starts to Jonathan Panzo and August Priske.

Birmingham City: Allsop, Osayi-Samuel, Klarer, Panzo, Wagner, Solis, Doyle, Vicente, Gray, Stansfield, Priske. Subs: Beadle, Mayo, Neumann, Burrell, Roberts, Osman, Fujimoto, Betteka, Ducksch.

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