Boss Daniel Farke made five changes to his team for United’s first game of 2024 against Championship visitors Birmingham City on New Year’s Day for which ‘keeper Kristoffer Klaesson, Archie Gray, Glen Kamara, Daniel James and Patrick Bamford all came into the side.
Farke was then forced into another change in just the 18th minute as Sam Byram suffered a hamstring injury which led to the full-back being replaced by Junior Firpo who then bagged two assists as part of a 3-0 victory for the Whites.
But Byram’s injury left seven players out for Leeds for whom keeper Karl Darlow, Pascal Struijk, Jamie Shackleton, Luke Ayling, longer-term absentee Stuart Dallas and the suspended Illan Meslier were already sidelined. Six days later, action in the FA Cup now awaits Farke’s Whites who will visit League One highflyers Peterborough United in a 2pm kick-off on Sunday afternoon in the third round.
The contest presents itself six days before the return to Championship action at Cardiff City and this is the Leeds XI that we think will step out against a Posh side unbeaten in their last ten games.
7. CM: Archie Gray
Darko Gyabi is an obvious shout if Farke wants to give him a chance against Peterborough but Gyabi has not made any of the last 21 matchday squads and might have to settle for a place on the bench. That would then mean one of Gray, Ethan Ampadu or Glen Kamara alongside Gruev and Gray is the suggestion in his natural centre-midfield role for what would be a first taste of FA Cup action for the 17-year-old star. Lewis Bate is another option but he's another who has not been close to the first team squad of late. Photo: George Wood
8. RW: Willy Gnonto
It says a lot when you bring an Italian international into the side as part of multiple changes and starting Gnonto looks an obvious port of call after the 20-year-old found himself back on the bench against Birmingham as Dan James came back into the side. A fifth change, back in for James. Photo: George Wood
9. LW: Jaidon Anthony
Anthony hasn't really hit lift off since joining from Bournemouth on a season-long loan, the winger bagging just two starts and 16 outings from the bench. He is one of several attacking players for whom Sunday's game looks a perfect opportunity. A sixth change, in for star man Crysencio Summerville. Photo: George Wood
10. ACM: Ian Poveda
This is a hard one to call amid a stack of options even on the assumption that Georginio Rutter gets a game off. Joel Piroe might well come back into the side but perhaps it will boil down to the choice of three youngsters in Joe Gelhardt, Ian Poveda and outside bet Sean McGurk who looks well worth a chance after continually excelling for the under-21s. Poveda, though, has been the one handed most minutes of late, suggesting he is perhaps more prominent in Farke's thoughts. A seventh change, in for Rutter. Photo: Nigel French
11. ST: Mateo Joseph
Joseph or Patrick Bamford, take your pick, on the assumption that Rutter and Piroe are either rested or on the bench. Bamford will have a huge spring in his step after both starting and then netting against Birmingham in replacing the benched Piroe. The Whites no 9 is the sort of player who could really get going again given a run of consecutive starts but 20-year-old Joseph is held in very high regard and Sunday's game presents an obvious chance for him to start after recent outings from the bench. A huge chance if he is indeed given it and the eighth of eight changes - in for Bamford - with only Klaesson, Cooper and Gray staying in from the XI v Birmingham. A very close call though. Photo: Ben Roberts Photo