Leeds United missed out on the chance to go top of the Championship on Saturday after losing 1-0 at Blackburn Rovers. A frustrating day saw Daniel Farke’s side experience all-too-familiar problems on the road, with Todd Cantwell’s first-half penalty enough to keep all three points at Ewood Park.
Farke predicted a quiet January in West Yorkshire but Leeds were known to be in for a No.10 over the summer and that tight-space creativity could have proved the difference, not only at Blackburn but many times throughout the campaign so far. Reports have also linked them with options in other areas of the pitch and recruitment chiefs will ‘stay awake’ as the Whites boss put it.
With that in mind, the YEP has attempted to draw up a dream starting line-up if some of those transfer rumours proved true. Would this team win promotion?
7. CM: Ao Tanaka
£3.5m summer arrival has been outstanding in place of Ampadu and should only kick on in a more box-to-box role. Joe Rothwell has been excellent but the Japan international should start. | Getty Images
8. RW: Wilfried Gnonto
Has taken on the 'main man' label in attack, dropping deep to dictate play and moving across the pitch. Eight goal involvements not to be sniffed at but the Italian will want to have had more than his three goals. Photo: George Wood
9. CAM: James McAtee
A number of all-too-familiar defeats against low-block teams have only intensified calls for a No.10. Angus Kinnear confirmed loan interest in McAtee over the summer and after playing just one minute of Premier League football for Manchester City, it might be worth another go in January. | Getty Images
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10. LW: Largie Ramazani
Got off to a flying start before an ankle injury and will cause nightmares for defenders once he's sharp again. Has the pace to counter-attack and the technical skill to beat low-block defences. Is also regularly on Gnonto's wavelength, owing to some intricate edge-of-the-box moves. | Getty Images
11. ST: Mateo Joseph
Must be chomping at the bit to get back in the starting line-up, with Piroe on the fringes of action once again at Blackburn. Is certainly the striker who gets the best out of those around him, if not the one banging in the goals. | Danny Lawson/PA Wire