Bamford rested as “clinical” star starts in Leeds predicted XI v Plymouth

Patrick Bamford could be given a breather in the FA Cup today against Plymouth Argyle.

For Leeds United’s final FA Cup encounter against Peterborough United, Daniel Farke made a number of lineup changes. Fortunately, it didn’t backfire badly, as the Whites easily advanced to the next round of the competition thanks to a stunning goal from Patrick Bamford in the 3-0 victory.

 

Therefore, the Leeds manager won’t be afraid to make changes to his starting

lineup for today’s match against Plymouth Argyle, since the

Championship may take precedence over the cup.

However, it would not be ideal to lose to Plymouth in front of the Elland Road crowd, so the lineup won’t be all that weak.

 

In light of that, here is Leeds’ anticipated starting lineup for the match against the Pilgrims, which features seven possible

substitutions from the squad that defeated Norwich City 1-0 on Wednesday.

GK – Kristoffer Klaesson

Although Illan Meslier has come back into the side and done a competent job returning from suspension – picking up a clean sheet last game against the Canaries – Farke could well put his faith back in Kristoffer Klaesson after starting him away at Posh in the last round.

The Norwegian shot-stopper kept a clean sheet in that Cup contest, managing to shut out Birmingham City in league action too when selected on New Year’s Day. Could he have a hat-trick of clean sheets at the final whistle against the Pilgrims if selected?

RB – Jamie Shackleton

As Farke stated in his press conference following the game that Archie Gray would not be playing, he may also rely on Jamie Shackleton returning to the team at right-back to cover for the teenage talent that is absent.

 

Shackleton, 24, hopes for another successful shutout against Plymouth

after being a part of the back four that emerged from a difficult match against

Peterborough with a clean sheet in the previous round.

CB – Joe Rodon

Farke could retain Joe Rodon for the game today regardless of games coming thick and fast, the German boss needing a dependable figure at the back in case Plymouth are buoyed on by Leeds fielding a weaker side than usual.

 

Authoritative as always in the mid-week Norwich win – winning seven duels in

total – the Welshman will hope his presence alone at the back can

intimidate the visitors going forward to ensure Leeds progress comfortably.

CB – Liam Cooper

Ethan Ampadu could, however, be given a breather for the game at Elland Road.

 

In his place, Liam Cooper could come into the side with Farke knowing that the

32-year-old will put in an accomplished display despite no longer being a fixed first-teamer.

 

When selected on New Year’s Day against Birmingham – wearing the captain’s

armband no less – the Scotsman was confident at the back with just four

misplaced passes all afternoon on top of four duels being won.

LB – Junior Firpo

Farke won’t want to cause any friction within his camp, sticking by Junior Firpo for the clash today with the ex-Barcelona man enjoying a remarkable resurgence in the Leeds first team recently.

 

Picking up four assists in his last four Championship games, the re-energised left-back will hope he can add yet another assist to his ever-growing total against Plymouth on the way to a straightforward win.

CM – Ilia Gruev

Ilia Gruev’s important presence in the Whites starting eleven has gone under-the-radar in the last few games,

consistently putting in admirable performances since coming into the first

team fold as a result of Ampadu being played at centre-back.

Acting as a brick wall in a holding role, Gruev’s calmness playing out from back

stood out in the Norwich win also – only misplacing two passes all night, whilst

winning five duels to help Leeds keep the Canaries at bay.

CM – Glen Kamara

Glen Kamara is also an understated figure in the Whites starting line-up week-in-week-out, excelling alongside Gruev throughout January as Leeds continue to pick up wins.

Winning 100% of his duels against David Wagner’s visitors from Norfolk, on top of completing one successful dribble attempt, the Finnish midfielder could be kept in the side against Plymouth as a calm and reliable head.

RM – Wilfried Gnonto

Farke could significantly shake up who starts in attack away from sticking by Kamara, Wilfried Gnonto could be preferred at right wing over Daniel James.

James picked up an injury against Norwich after being largely everpresent

this season – onto 29 appearances for the campaign so far – and the German

manager will know Gnonto can come in and do a job in the Welshman’s absence.

 

The 20-year-old finds himself on the fringes at Elland Road still, but with a positive display against Plymouth today,

the Italian attacker could further prove his commitment to the Leeds cause with

murmurs of a new contract extension seeing him stay put in West Yorkshire.

CAM – Joel Piroe

In and out of the Leeds lineup in recent weeks – owing to Georginio Rutter lighting up the division in the number ten spot ahead of the Whites number seven – Joel Piroe could come back into the first team fold today versus Plymouth.

 

Piroe has been a victim of other individuals stepping up to the mark away from just Rutter, and kept out of the lineup in the lone striker spot too due to Bamford finding his shooting boots again.

 

Scoring a last-gasp penalty against Preston North End last weekend off the bench – backing up his “clinical” tag given to him by former Swansea City boss Russell Martin – Farke will hope starting Piroe from the get-go means the ex Swans man is similarly effective over

the course of a full game against the Pilgrims.

LM – Jaidon Anthony

It would be a ludicrous selection decision for Farke to risk playing Crysencio

Summerville today, opting to play Jaidon Anthony instead with the AFC

Bournemouth loanee starting in the last round against Peterborough.

The 24-year-old was bright in patches when substituted in place of an injury-

stricken James down the right channel last match, but will play on the opposing

flank against Plymouth to come in for Summerville.

Managing one key pass in the second half mid-week, Anthony will hope he can be

even livelier today to steer Leeds to an easy win over their Championship opponents in the Cup.

ST – Mateo Joseph

Patrick Bamford has been in sublime form of late but Farke may be wary of fatigue and could bring a young talent into the XI to provide him with a chance to shine.

 

Coming back into the team the last few games and bursting back into life as a potent goalscorer – netting four goals in his last five games – the worst possible scenario to come out of this reemergence into the first team would see Bamford pick up an injury against Plymouth after being overplayed.

Mateo Joseph has been knocking on the door of a first-team start for some time and could benefit from Farke’s hesitancy to select Bamford, bagging 19 goals to date in the U23 set-up in West Yorkshire.