Daniel Farke will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of defeat against Southampton as his Leeds United side host Queens Park Rangers at Elland Road on Wednesday 04 October.
The Whites faced a setback in their progress with a poor defeat against Southampton but will see QPR as the ideal opportunity to bounce back, with the visitors having won just one of their last seven Championship games.
Farke set a precedent for how his teams will be picked with the lineup against Southampton – it’s a meritocracy. Some of the performances on the South Coast deserve to see the players lose their place, with plenty of rotation likely.
The defence is likely to show the most key changes after they were cut open all too easily by the Saints at the weekend, with Liam Cooper’s impressive display against Watford wiped out as his fortunes turned at St Mary’s. Joe Rodon should return to his place alongside Pascal Struijk.
Some considered the Welshman unlucky to have missed out against Southampton, but his exclusion from the starting team appeared a display of Farke’s standards.
Luke Ayling, meanwhile, should return at right-back, with his experienced head and consistent performances so far this season providing the better option than the makeshift choice of Jamie Shackleton, despite his good form.
Sam Byram looks set to keep his place on the left-hand side of the defence, largely as he is the only option there, but also as a result of his displays since returning from injury.
Further up the pitch, Ethan Ampadu should keep his spot in midfield, but Archie Gray could return to the side after Glen Kamara struggled against Saints, getting booked and taken off after just 73 minutes in an abject display.
Kamara had very little impact on the game, touching the ball just 44 times in the centre of the park, despite the even split of possession, while his 50% duel success rate is also a poor sign [Sofascore].
Crysencio Summerville has been a real bright spark for Farke this season but took a blow to the shoulder which he seemed to struggle with before being subbed off, and he may be rested as a precaution due to his importance to the side, allowing Jaidon Anthony to make his full debut.
Up front, the dynamic duo of Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter should remain, with their displays of late earning an almost guaranteed spot, despite struggling to impact the game at the weekend. Patrick Bamford came on for Daniel James at St Mary’s but looks set to remain on the bench for this one.