The Whites go into the Championship game on the back of a gruelling 120-minute FA Cup tie in atrocious conditions at Plymouth Argyle. Despite their dominance and superiority, Leeds were unable to get the job done in regulation time and needed extra-time to score three goals and eventually ease through to the fifth round and a trip to Chelsea. Despite the extra, unwanted load that Farke’s players had to go through, the changes he made to the starting line-up and the substitutions he made during the game ensured that the burden was mostly shared across the squad.
Of the players considered likely to start against Rotherham United, only Illan Meslier, Junior Firpo, Joe Rodon and Ilia Gruev lasted the entire two-hour distance in midweek. That does bring up the possibility of Farke needing to freshen up in certain areas, but he will be making alterations in any case to bring some of his first-choice players back into the line-up.
The good news for Leeds, however, is the form of players who were previously struggling to make an impact and how competitive the squad has become because of their recent uptick. Willy Gnonto, Gruev and Patrick Bamford are the three most obvious examples. Gnonto scored his second goal in two games at Plymouth, while Bamford has made himself an important part of the attack after sitting on the bench for the vast majority of the first months of the campaign. Gruev’s emergence as a really solid option in midfield has given Farke real depth in that area. Here’s the XI the YEP can see taking to the pitch at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon.
1. Illan Meslier
The keeper has been a spectator for large periods of recent games but made some big saves when called upon and remains Daniel Farke's number one choice between the posts. Pic: Matt McNulty/Getty Images Photo: Matt McNulty
2. Archie Gray
The arrival of Connor Roberts on loan gives Farke the option to rest Gray or move him back into midfield, but when he's playing so well neither of those outcomes feel likely. The teen has been excellent of late. Pic: George Wood/Getty Images Photo: George Wood
3. Sam Byram
Dropping Firpo might feel a little harsh given recent performances, prior to Plymouth at least, but he played 120 minutes in midweek and Byram might be the fresher option of the two. Pic: George Wood/Getty Images Photo: George Wood
4. Joe Rodon
One of the first names on the team-sheet at present after a season of consistently solid performances. The partnership with Ampadu has been working wonders, too. Pic: George Wood/Getty Images Photo: George Wood
5. Ethan Ampadu
Finally the versatile Welshman got his rest in midweek, sitting out the FA Cup game at Plymouth having played in every single game prior to that. A return to the team feels inevitable and in central defence, where he and Rodon have been so good, feels highly likely. Pic: Matt McNulty/Getty Images Photo: Matt McNulty
6. Ilia Gruev
Gruev has excelled since he got his chance in the deep-lying midfield role and should start again, so long as Farke and his staff do not feel a rest is necessary after he put so much into the game at Plymouth. If so, then Gray could feature in midfield with Roberts or Byram the options for right-back. Pic: Matt McNulty/Getty Images Photo: Matt McNulty