Leeds United are preparing to take on League Two side Harrogate Town in the third round of the FA Cup at Elland Road on Saturday. Daniel Farke has a rare opportunity to heavily rotate his squad and several of the fringe players are expected to start this weekend. The Leeds boss has insisted that he would have to strike a fine balance between resting players but still have a strong enough team to beat Harrogate Town and reach the next round of the tournament. It is also a chance for some of the players to win the confidence of the German and rekindle their Leeds career on Saturday evening.
The Yorkshire giants have a breather from the Championship as they look to focus on progressing in the FA Cup this weekend where they seem to have a straightforward game.
Leeds are expected to beat Harrogate Town but there is always a chance of an upset as the Whites are also likely to field a heavily rotated squad at Elland Road on Saturday.
However, it is also a chance for some of the fringe players in the Leeds squad to ensure that they catch the eye of the manager in the hope of getting more game time in the first eleven in the second half of the Championship season.
Here is a list of five players who have a real chance of rekindling their Leeds United career when they take on the League Two side in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Wilfried Gnonto – a real chance for him to convince the Leeds United manager
The Italy winger was a certain starter in the Leeds team until recently. A run of poor form and performances meant that he lost his place in the team to Manor Solomon a few weeks back.
The Leeds star got another starting eleven berth during the Christmas period but failed to impress and is no longer part of the first-choice forward line at Elland Road this season.
Gnonto is almost certain to start against Harrogate Town and this is a real chance for him to produce an electric performance and give Farke a selection headache.
The Italian remains a talented player and was in the team until recently. A good performance against Harrogate Town would give the Leeds boss something to think about moving forward.
However, another lacklustre saying, Gnonto could be forced to wait a long time before he gets another chance to be in the starting eleven this season.
Karl Darlow – a viable goalkeeping alternative
Darlow has not had another chance to play since Leeds crashed out of the EFL Cup following a defeat at home against Middlesbrough in August.
The Welshman has played for Wales in the UEFA Nations League but has found it hard to displace Illan Meslier in the starting eleven this season. However, the Frenchman’s poor form has opened the door for Darlow to stake a claim for the place between the sticks.
He will start against Harrogate Town on Saturday and while that is no indication of Meslier’s future in the team, it is at least an opportunity for Darlow to impress Farke.
A secure and errorless performance against the League Two side will give the Leeds boss something to think about when he selects his starting eleven for the Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday a week from Sunday.
Isaac Schmidt – last chance saloon at Leeds United
The Swiss defender was signed towards the end of the transfer window last summer. He was seen as cover for Junior Firpo at left-back but he is hardly getting a look-in by Daniel Farke.
The Leeds boss has preferred Sam Byram and Max Wober when Firpo has been injured and Schmidt has played a grand total of 25 minutes across seven substitute appearances in the Championship. There are now question marks over why Leeds signed the defender when he was not going to be a real option at left-back when needed.
Schmidt is one of the players who is expected to get his first chance to start and this could be the make-or-break opportunity. A good performance and he could get more games in the coming months but with a poor showing, he could say goodbye to getting another start this season.
Josuha Guilavogui – a first start since joining the club
Leeds signed the 34-year-old midfielder in October following injuries to Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu. However, Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell were almost flawless and Guilavogui has only featured as a substitute thus far.
The veteran midfielder is keen to earn a longer contract beyond the end of the season at Leeds but he is not getting enough game time to impress.
Guilavogui is likely to be in the starting eleven and will finally have a chance to show his worth from the start in a Leeds shirt this season.
Mateo Joseph – one more opportunity to prove his worth
The Spaniard started the season as Leeds’ first-choice striker but he struggled to hit the back of the net and the second of his two league goals this term came in October.
He has started just two of Leeds’ last ten league games and has lost his place in the team to Joel Piroe who has done well in recent weeks.
Joseph is likely to lead the line for Leeds against Harrogate Town and he has one more chance to prove his worth to Farke this season. Patrick Bamford’s injuries suggest, that the Spaniard will always be in with a shout to get more game time but he needs to do more to ensure that he is seen as a viable option by the Leeds United boss if Piroe struggles.
