Leeds United limped their way into the play-off picture amid a drop in form at the end of the season. Here is the latest team news for the Whites.
Leeds United travel to East Anglia on Sunday afternoon to face Norwich City in the first leg of their Championship Play-Off semi-final at Carrow Road.
The Whites’ form tumbled at a time when wins would have seen them clear and away at the top of the table. Leicester City and Ipswich Town stumbled too but both pulled out results that saw them head to the Premier League.
Instead, Leeds United will try their hand at the lottery that is the play-offs. It is a lottery they have entered before, yet they still have to taste success and promotion. With faltering form and a dire play-off record, a win in Sunday’s encounter against Norwich is necessary for Daniel Farke’s men.
Leeds United team newsAhead of the game, Farke issued the latest on his squad, as the Yorkshire Evening Post relayed.
The big news is that winger Daniel James could be back in contention after missing recent games due to an injury picked up in the recent 4-3 victory over Middlesbrough. Confirming James had taken part in team training, Farke added that there’s “at least a chance he’s available.
”Whilst this would add a degree of threat and pace to a flagging Leeds United side, Farke did say that he didn’t foresee Welshman James playing a 90-minute role. He also added that is depends on his progress over the next 48 hours.
In worset news, first-choice striker Patrick Bamford will miss the two-legged semi-final against David Warner’s Canaries. He has not recovered from a recent knee injury with new tests showing “mini trauma in his patellar tendon” according to Farke.
With this ruling him out of the two Norwich City games, the Whites will need to look elsewhere for a striker to lead the line for these make-or-break fixtures.
Predicted XIMeslier, Gray, Rodon, Ampadu, Byram, Gruev, Kamara, Gnonto, Rutter, Summerville, PiroeWith Bamford’s knee injury ruling him out against the Canaries, expect Dutchman Joel Piroe to start in his place across both games. That is likely the only change with Leeds’ usually devastating attacking line largely picking itself.
Given Junior Firpo’s struggles against Southampton in their 2023/24 campaign closer, Sam Byram could well be shifted across from right-back to play at left-back. He was extremely effective here at the start of the season. Archie Gray could slot in at right-back where he could continue his excellent run of form.
Whatever side Daniel Farke puts out, it will be a side that desperately needs to rediscover its swagger and devastating form from the opening three months of 2024 when they strung together an impressive run of unbeaten games.
