AliousLeeds United is gearing up for a crucial Championship match against Burnley on Saturday afternoon, and the team selection for this fixture has become a topic of considerable interest. The international break, which has just concluded, has presented manager Daniel Farke with both challenges and opportunities in terms of squad selection.
International breaks typically disrupt the rhythm and planning of league managers, and this one has been no exception for Farke. For the past 13 days, he has been without a significant portion of his Leeds United squad. Those players who have been away on international duty have been exposed to different tactical approaches and may have picked up minor injuries or fatigue along the way. This situation often leads to more unpredictable team selections for the first match following such breaks.
In his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Farke revealed that he has two injury concerns within his squad. Daniel James has been ruled out definitively, while Max Wober is considered a major doubt due to a knee issue that caused him to miss Austria’s second match during the international break. Interestingly, neither James nor Wober featured in Leeds’ last game before the break, a victory over Hull City, which makes it challenging to justify significant changes to a winning team composition.
James, with his impressive performances earlier in the season, would typically have enough credit to warrant an immediate return to the starting lineup. However, his extended absence has opened the door for other players, particularly Manor Solomon, to establish themselves in the wide attacking positions. Solomon’s integration into the team during this period could make him a strong contender to retain his place in the starting XI.
Junior Firpo’s situation is worth noting. Despite having a long journey back from international duty with the Dominican Republic, he has had three days to readjust and should be ready for the match against Burnley. On the other hand, Brenden Aaronson’s availability is less certain. The American midfielder was playing in Cincinnati as recently as 2 am on Wednesday morning before embarking on a transatlantic flight back to England. Despite these challenging circumstances, given Aaronson’s significant contributions in the early weeks of the season, it might be unwise to exclude him from the starting lineup. The alternatives, such as Joel Piroe or Joe Rothwell, don’t present compelling enough cases to displace Aaronson.
New signings Ao Tanaka and Largie Ramazani are eager to make their mark in the starting XI, but with the current team performing well, a gradual integration process seems more prudent. This approach allows them to acclimate to the team’s style of play and the demands of the Championship while maintaining the cohesion of the successful starting lineup.
Taking all these factors into consideration, our club writer has proposed the following starting XI for Leeds United against Burnley:
Goalkeeper:
Illan Meslier
Defenders:
Jayden Bogle,
Joe Rodon,
Pascal Struijk,
Junior Firpo
Midfielders:
Ethan Ampadu,
Ilia Gruev
Attacking Midfielders:
Wilfried Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson, Manor Solomon
Striker:
Mateo Joseph
This lineup maintains the core of the team that secured victory against Hull City while accommodating for the unavailability of Daniel James and the potential absence of Max Wober.
It also reflects a balance between consistency and the integration of newer elements into the squad.
The selection showcases faith in players like Aaronson despite potential fatigue from international travel, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum and team chemistry. The inclusion of Solomon in the attacking trio indicates a willingness to reward good performances and adapt to forced changes due to injuries.
As Leeds United aims to continue their push for promotion back to the Premier League, this match against Burnley represents an important test.
The chosen lineup will need to quickly rediscover their pre-international break form and cohesion to secure a positive result against a tough opponent.
This selection also highlights the depth that Leeds United now possesses, with quality options available on the bench to potentially impact the game as substitutes.
It will be interesting to see how closely Farke’s actual team selection aligns with this prediction, and how effective the chosen XI proves to be against Burnley.
Alious
