Leeds United predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest with three debuts as injured man set for bench | OneFootball

Leeds United are set to hand out at least three competitive debuts at Nottingham Forest, with club-record £40 million signing James Trafford starting in goal and £34 million arrival Tarik Muharemovic in defence. According to Leeds Live, both impressed in pre-season and are viewed as central pieces for Daniel Farke's side.

Jayden Bogle and Joe Rodon signed new deals this week and are set to operate together on the right of a back five. Jaka Bijol is due to anchor the defence with Muharemovic on the left. Rodon and Bijol have been named in the vice-captain leadership group.

James Justin is also in that group and is expected to start at left-back, with Gabriel Gudmundsson still out with a hamstring injury. He could miss next week's meeting with Brentford as well. In midfield, captain Ethan Ampadu is set to line up with Anton Stach, in line with the XI used against Augsburg on Saturday, and Stach looked sharp after a May ankle injury.

Harry Wilson and Brenden Aaronson are tipped to play as the two wide 10s behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Aaronson has signed fresh terms this summer, while Wilson joined on a free, making him the cheapest arrival. Noah Okafor is not yet fit to start after a late return following Switzerland's World Cup quarter-final run, though he could be used from the bench.

Nico Elvedi could make the squad after a full pre-season at Borussia Monchengladbach, but he is expected to begin as back-up. Wilfried Gnonto misses out with a hamstring problem, while Ilia Gruev could be on the bench for the first time since pre-season began after a March meniscus injury. Predicted XI, 3-4-2-1: Trafford, Rodon, Bijol, Muharemovic, Bogle, Ampadu, Stach, Justin, Wilson, Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin.

Source: Leeds Live

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”