Sunday’s Leeds United line-up will naturally look a lot different to the one that lined up against Harrogate Town in last Saturday’s FA Cup third round but Daniel Farke will be forced to make one change he’d rather not make.

Pascal Struijk is out for at least three weeks with a hamstring injury amid the potential that he could be sidelined for longer should scans next week show that he has damaged his tendon. Meanwhile, Farke says he is being careful to manage the load of Max Wober given his ongoing knee problems.

Farke has often spoken about the value he places in playing Ethan Ampadu in midfield but against Sheffield Wednesday he could be asked to play at centre-back once more. The boss has previously underlined his faith in Illan Meslier despite his blunder against Hull City and so he will almost certainly start in goal.

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Like Meslier, Jayden Bogle was rested against Harrogate but he is expected to return to the line-up with Sam Byram continuing at left-back with it possibly too soon for Junior Firpo to start despite his return from injury last weekend.

Joe Rodon, who was missing from the United line-up for the first time this season against Harrogate, may continue his league streak alongside Ampadu.

Due to the skipper’s role change, Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell may start in midfield despite Ilia Gruev’s cameo return against Harrogate. It is likely that Farke slowly eases Gruev back into action following his knee meniscus setback back in October.

Manor Solomon starred in the number 10 role against Harrogate but Farke has confirmed that Brenden Aaronson is his number one pick in the position. Solomon may still get the nod on the flank, though, with Daniel James starting on the right.

The major piece of attacking news is that Joel Piroe has returned to team training this week having missed the FA Cup tie after feeling muscle complaints during the week. He is set to start against Wednesday as United look to extend their unbeaten run in Yorkshire derbies to 18 matches.

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