Predicted Leeds side to face Derby: Five changes, Hernandez risked?

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Leeds play host to Derby County on Friday night in a crucial Championship clash.

Marcelo Bielsa is expected to welcome back his senior stars on Friday night as Leeds United play host to Derby County in a crucial Championship clash at Elland Road.

Bielsa handed starts to the likes of Aapo Halme, Leif Davis, Jamie Shackleton, Tyler Roberts and Jack Clarke last weekend, as Leeds suffered a 2-1 defeat to QPR in the third round of the FA Cup.

It saw Bielsa rest the likes of Matuesz Klich, Pontus Jansson, Kemar Roofe, Pablo Hernandez and more, with his Leeds squad being stretched thin due to a number of injuries.

The likes of Barry Douglas, Izzy Brown, Patrick Bamford, Gaetano Berardi and Stuart Dallas are nearing returns from injuries, while captain Liam Cooper is ready to play after turning out for the Whites Under-23 side on Monday.

Cooper is expected to come in alongside Jansson at centre-back on Friday in a defensive reshuffle that should see Ayling move over to right-back, and Davis could retain his place with Douglas “two to three weeks away” from returning.

Adam Forshaw is expected to remain in the holding midfield role with Kalvin Phillips banned for another two games. Pablo Hernandez is a doubt after picking up a knock over the Christmas period, and even Bielsa is unsure if he will play.

But even if the Spaniard is not 100 per cent, playing him against Derby is a must and he should start in attacking midfield alongside Klich. Clarke may finally get his first start, with Jack Harrison dropping out while Gjanni Alioski remains.

Bielsa told Wednesday’s press conference that if Hernandez does not return in time, then £2.5million man (YEP) Roberts will get another chance to show what he is all about in attacking midfield.

Kemar Roofe is expected to start up front with Bamford still struggling. Five changes for Leeds then, with Shackleton, Halme, Harrison, Roberts and Lewis Baker dropping out. In come Cooper, Jansson, Klich, Hernandez and Roofe.