Leeds' Season Lineup Preview
Leeds United Confirms Farke's First-Choice XI for Augsburg Clash, Trafford Debuts
Key Points
Gabi Gudmundsson is out with a muscular injury, which could keep him sidelined for the first two Premier League games of the season.
Ilia Gruev has yet to feature this summer after returning to training from a meniscus knee injury.
Noah Okafor registered his first minutes of the summer during the friendly against Manchester United, his first action of the pre-season.
James Trafford will make his Elland Road debut in the Augsburg match, having previously debuted for Leeds with a 45-minute appearance in Dublin earlier in the week.
Leeds’ 2-0 pre-season win over RB Leipzig featured goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, underscoring the players who have recently contributed in friendlies ahead of the Forest opener.
Leeds United have named what looks like Daniel Farke's first-choice starting XI for their final pre-season friendly against Augsburg at Elland Road, according to Yorkshire Evening Post. The lineup offers the clearest sign yet of how Leeds will line up when the Premier League season kicks off against Nottingham Forest.
The headline news is James Trafford's Elland Road debut. The goalkeeper joined from Manchester City for £40 million and will play in front of his new home fans for the first time, Yorkshire Evening Post reported.
Farke Names His Best XI Against Augsburg
Trafford starts behind a back three of Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol and Tarik Muharemovic. Jayden Bogle lines up at right wing-back and James Justin on the left. Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach pair in central midfield, according to Yorkshire Evening Post.
Brenden Aaronson, Harry Wilson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin form the front three. Wilson and Calvert-Lewin return to the starting lineup after being left out recently. SSB Crack noted this looks like Farke's preferred attacking unit heading into the new season.
Trafford Debut Follows £40m Move From City
Trafford already made his Leeds debut earlier in pre-season, playing 45 minutes in Dublin. But the Augsburg game marks his first appearance at Elland Road. The 22-year-old is expected to be Farke's first-choice keeper for the season opener, Yorkshire Evening Post reported.
Leeds head into the match unbeaten in four pre-season friendlies. They have scored 10 goals and conceded six. Their best result came in a 2-0 win over RB Leipzig, with goals from Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, according to Yorkshire Evening Post.
Injury Concerns Cloud Leeds' Build-Up to Forest
Left-back Gabi Gudmundsson is out with a muscular injury. Yorkshire Evening Post reported he could miss the first two Premier League games of the season. That is a blow for Farke as he tries to nail down his best defensive shape.
Ilia Gruev has not featured at all this summer after returning from a meniscus knee injury. Noah Okafor only got his first pre-season minutes in the friendly against Manchester United. The depth of Farke's squad is still being tested ahead of competitive fixtures.
Midfield Questions Remain Before Forest Opener
The Ampadu-Stach partnership will face close scrutiny from Leeds fans. Questions remain about whether Sean Longstaff can force his way into the starting XI. The Forest game will give a clearer answer, but the Augsburg match offers the last pre-season chance to experiment, SSB Crack noted.
Leeds' season opener against Nottingham Forest is now fast approaching. The club has used pre-season to give minutes to new signings and work out its best lineup. After the Augsburg game, Farke will have little time left to fine-tune his plans before the real action begins.
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