Leeds fringe quartet out to impress at Birmingham after calls for Perri to step up | OneFootball

Leeds United’s FA Cup trip to St Andrew’s on Sunday should hand fringe players a platform to impress. According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, changes are likely from the team that drew 2-2 at Chelsea.

Daniel Farke rotated heavily in the 3-1 third-round win at Derby County. Leeds have lost one of five league games since, yet several who featured then have seen little action.

Lucas Perri cost nearly £16 million but errors against Manchester United and Newcastle saw him lose his spot. Farke criticised him, then turned to Karl Darlow in the Derby tie. A good cup display would help Perri, though shifting Darlow in the league looks unlikely.

Ao Tanaka has not started a Premier League match since mid-December at Brentford. Goals against Chelsea and Liverpool lit up winter, but with Ilia Gruev trusted he is arguably fifth-choice. Starting suits him, so Sunday could be a timely audition.

Despite playing for Chelsea in round three, Facundo Buonanotte is eligible under relaxed rules. The on-loan Brighton midfielder has yet to impress in the Premier League and was left out against Nottingham Forest last week. Birmingham should let him roam and create, and bank minutes.

Joel Piroe drew January interest but stayed. He has not played more than 20 minutes in a league game since Arsenal in August, and at Derby he played well overall but missed a penalty and is still goalless this season. Since March 2024 he has scored only once, a four-goal haul against Stoke City.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk