Injury return and full Leeds United debut amid four Whites changes against Watford with six out
Liam Cooper begins after returning from a ruptured plantar fascia as a second-half substitute in Wednesday night’s goalless draw against Hull City, which saw Joe Rodon sent off for a second booking.
Rodon now serves a one-match suspension, and Cooper replaces him as one of four changes to the lineup, in which summer acquisition Glen Kamara makes his full debut in midfield, replacing Archie Gray, who drops to the bench.
The injured Willy Gnonto is also replaced by Crysencio Summerville in the front line whilst Sam Byram returns to take the place of the benched Luke Ayling at full-back.
Gnonto was forced off injured midway through the first half of Hull’s play on Wednesday night, and Farke announced at Friday’s pre-match press conference that the Italian had torn his lateral ankle ligament and would definitely miss this weekend’s meeting against the Hornets.
Djed Spence is still out with a lateral collateral ligament injury, while Patrick Bamford, Junior Firpo, and Stuart Dallas are still out as they recover from injuries.
Charlie Cresswell and Mateo Joseph have returned to the bench after missing out at Hull due to Rodon and Gnonto’s absences.
Watford boss Valerien Ismael has made two changes to his Hornets side as Jamal Lewis and Ryan Andrews replace James Morris and Jeremy Ngakia. Lewis is making his first start for the club.
Meslier, Byram, Cooper, Struijk, Shackleton, Ampadu, Kamara, Summerville, James, Piroe, Rutter for Leeds United vs. Watford. Darlow, Ayling, Cresswell, Gruev, Gray, Poveda, Anthony, Gelhardt, Joseph are the Leeds substitutes.
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