Whites boss Daniel Farke made two changes to his side for Wednesday night’s hosting of Swansea City in which a 3-1 victory made it six Elland Road wins on the spin. Pascal Struijk made a full return from his double hernia injury to captain the side in place of Liam Cooper who dropped to the bench along with Junior Firpo as Sam Byram also made a full return from injury to start at left back.
Another Whites star returned from a longer injury to the bench as Tottenham loanee Djed Spence appeared for the first time since injuring his knee in training in the middle of September. Spence was an unused substitute but Farke revealed post match that he had been impressing in training and that there was now a good chance of game time over the upcoming weeks for Spence given the right concentration and focus.
Farke held his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, at which he revealed that both Joe Gelhardt (hip) and Junior Firpo (hamstring) had suffered injury setbacks. The pair join Stuart Dallas on the sidelines, Dallas still on the comeback trail from a femoral fracture and currently training individually.
Gelhardt, Firpo and Dallas are the only three players out but Spence is now very much available following his injury return and this is the Leeds XI that we think will line up against Michael Carrick’s Riversiders.
7. CM: Glen Kamara
Another summer signing who has taken a bit longer to impress but that's understandable given his pre-season and Kamara himself is very quickly becoming another automatic pick. The picture would be rather more complicated if and when Spence starts at right back, leaving a two from three conundrum out of Ampadu, Kamara and Gray but that's one for another week. Photo: George Wood
8. RW: Dan James
An Italian international in Willy Gnonto leads the alternatives but James has quickly amassed five goals and four assists this term. End product? Hell yeah. His pace will also always cause chaos and another start looks imminent. Photo: George Wood
9. LW: Crysencio Summerville
Seven goals and now six assists for the exciting Dutch winger who has quickly become one of the first names on the teamsheet. Photo: George Wood
10. ACM: Joel Piroe
Another goal in midweek took the summer signing's Whites tally to seven - putting him joint fifth in the Championship's top scorer charts along with Summerville and four others. A degree of debate will always rumble on other whether or not Piroe should play as a no 9 but not while Leeds are winning it won't. Photo: George Wood
11. ST: Georginio Rutter
Wizardry on the football pitch was followed by a wizard celebration against Swansea as the record signing finally bagged his first goal at Elland Road. No surprise if more now very quickly follow for a player already on four goals and seven assists for the Championship campaign. Photo: Danny Lawson