Leeds United team news vs Portsmouth as Joe Rothwell axed from starting XI
Leeds United team news vs Portsmouth as Joe Rothwell axed from starting XI
Daniel Farke has opted to field Ilia Gruev in his Leeds United line-up to take on Portsmouth this afternoon, meaning Joe Rothwell is rotated out to the bench again.
Gruev begins his fifth straight away game, having been benched for last weekend’s 1-1 home draw at West Bromwich Albion. Ao Tanaka partners Gruev in midfield to begin his 13th straight league match.
Brenden Aaronson keeps his place as the number 10, despite recording just one goal contribution in his last 11 outings. Top scorer Joel Piroe will look to build on his 15 goals up top.
On the flank, February’s Championship player of month Daniel James is expectedly chosen on the right with Manor Solomon on the opposite flank. In the last 10 league games, the pair have recorded a combined nine goals and 10 assists.
The back five stays the same, with Illan Meslier looking to keep his first clean sheet in four matches. If he does so, he will record his 21st blank of the campaign and match last season’s overall clean sheet haul.
Jayden Bogle remains a card away from a two-game booking suspension, having picked up nine so far this season. Players in the EFL who amass 10 by matchday 37 are given the respective ban, so the right-back also has the midweek clash against Millwall to come through.
Junior Firpo, who was named as United fans’ player of the month for February, starts once more at left-back with Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon reprising their centre-back partnership.
Starting XI: Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Gruev, Tanaka; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe.
Subs: Darlow, Byram, Schmidt, Debayo, Rothwell, Guilavogui, Ramazani, Gnonto, Joseph.
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