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Leeds United predicted XI vs Burnley as Ao Tanaka starts and Junior Firpo decision made

Junior Firpo impressed when he came on vs Norwich City on Wednesday
-Credit:MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images


Daniel Farke is leaving no room for excuses ahead of Monday’s trip to Burnley. The Leeds United boss has rubbished talk that fatigue will influence the result of the match and believes five days is more than enough rest time.

As a result, United supporters may be able to predict who begins at Turf Moor. There has been angst in the stands towards Illan Meslier given his blunders this season.

However, Farke has emphasised that he is his number one goalkeeper and so he will start against Burnley barring any injury or illness. The shot-stopper has the second-highest number of clean sheets in the Championship this season, with only Burnley’s James Trafford recording more (16 vs 18).

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A large portion of the blank-slate credit has to go to the defence, who have kept three straight clean sheets. There is good news with Pascal Struijk, with scans showing the centre-back has not damaged his tendon.

Monday's match comes too soon for the 25-year-old but Farke reckons he could be back in team training within the week, having already started individual drills. Captain Ethan Ampadu is therefore likely to partner Joe Rodon in the centre of defence to reform the “Welsh wall”.

Farke says that Jayden Bogle has been his player of the match for the last 10 games and is surely a shoo-in to start next week. Junior Firpo is making great strides in building up match fitness following his foot injury over the festive period.

He earned his first Championship minutes since his setback when he replaced Sam Byram early in the second half against Norwich City on Wednesday. His forward play eventually led to the second goal. Just days beforehand, Farke said he was “not far away” from being ready to start a match.

However, it would seem unwise to drop Byram from the left-back position in which he has built up so much momentum and disrupt an already-depleted backline. Plus, throwing Firpo in for such a big game from the start is a risk, despite his obvious qualities.

Ao Tanaka was called “naive” by Farke for lunging in on Norwich’s Emiliano Marcondes while on a yellow card in midweek. The Japan star can count his lucky stars that the referee did not decide to book him after playing advantage, although his manager insisted he did not deserve to be sent off anyhow.

Tanaka has been in fine form for United and his absence would have been a real blow. He and Joe Rothwell have worked up a neat partnership in midfield and it’s hard to see Farke making any changes there.

Manor Solomon is in undroppable form with two goals and two assists in his last three matches. He thanked Daniel James for setting up his goal inside a minute against Norwich before returning the favour during the second half.

James now has 11 goal contributions this season while Solomon has nine. Both have to start. So does Aaronson, but for different reasons.

The American - who has begun the last 26 league matches - has put himself about well and did play a lovely through ball for James amidst the opening goal against Norwich. But it is fair to argue he has hit top form in the last few games.

There is no danger of him being dropped, though, due to a lack of direct alternatives at No.10. Joel Piroe is United’s top scorer and biggest centre-forward threat.

He was handed half-chances against Norwich but still managed to make the goalkeeper work once or twice.

Farke has called on his attackers to be prolific against a Burnley side which has kept six straight league clean sheets and conceded just nine times in 28 Championship matches. Piroe is United’s best chance at centre-forward of breaking the block.

Predicted Leeds United XI vs Burnley: Meslier; Bogle, Ampadu, Rodon, Byram; Tanaka, Rothwell; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe.