Leeds United Predicted Lineup and Team News v Norwich

Leeds United have a well-timed break from Premier League action as they take on Championship side Norwich City in the fifth round of the FA Cup, where they will hope to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2003. After back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Sunderland in the league, a comfortable home victory against the Canaries could allow Leeds to regain their form going into the run-in. Here is our Leeds United team news and predicted lineup.

Leeds Team News and Predicted Lineup for FA Cup Fifth Round Clash v Norwich

How Leeds Have Lined Up Recently

Although Karl Darlow continues to be Daniel Farke’s first-choice keeper, the Welshman will likely get a rest in the cup, allowing fourth-round hero Lucas Perri another opportunity to showcase his quality.

In central defence, Leeds have opted for the trio of James Justin, Joe Rodon, and Pascal Struijk in recent weeks, with Jaka Bijol still not yet back to full fitness. The Slovenian came off the bench in the 84th minute in the 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, and may get a run out from the start against Norwich to get some minutes into his legs.

At wing-back, the dynamic duo of Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson have been ever-present, only missing three league games between them all season. As in previous rounds, Farke will be hesitant to risk two of his most important players in the cup, so both are unlikely to start against Philippe Clement’s side.

The Leeds manager’s decision to switch to a 3-4-2-1 shape rather than a 3-5-2 has placed additional defensive responsibility on his midfield, and he appears to have settled on Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu as his pairing of choice. Whilst Ampadu has been excellent, it is the outstanding form of Gruev that may have caught supporters off guard, as the Bulgarian is keeping the likes of Sean Longstaff and Ao Tanaka out of the side.

With Noah Okafor injured, Farke has pushed defensive midfielder Anton Stach into the number ten role alongside Brenden Aaronson, and the big German has excelled. With four goals and three assists to his name, including three worldie free-kicks, the 27-year-old has fast become one of the club’s most exciting players.

Up front, it has been a quiet spell for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who hasn’t found the back of the net since the 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest on February 6. Whilst 17th-placed Championship side Norwich would be an ideal opponent for the target man to rediscover his form, it seems likely that he will be given a rest.

Leeds Recent Form and Tactics

Success in the FA Cup has been few and far between for Leeds United, who have not reached the final of the competition since they won it in 1972, and haven’t made it past the fifth round for 23 years. However, the club could not have asked for a kinder run as they look to reach the last eight, defeating Championship sides Derby County and Birmingham City to set up a home tie with the Canaries.

That being said, after two defeats on the spin, United’s precarious league position remains the focus. Farke has said that Premier League survival is ‘always the priority,’ and with Nottingham Forest and West Ham both picking up results, the Whites now have a gap of just three points over the bottom three, so will be desperate not to risk injuries to their key men in the cup.

Leeds Team News

Okafor remains the only unavailable Leeds player, with Farke stating that the forward is ‘not in team training yet.’

The Leeds boss will therefore have a full squad to call upon, although he is likely to name a heavily rotated side.