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Leeds United team news vs Burnley as Daniel Farke makes key Ilia Gruev decision
Daniel Farke has selected his starting XI to take on Burnley in tonight’s huge Championship clash
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ByIsaac JohnsonLeeds United reporter
19:14, 27 JAN 2025
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Ilia Gruev starts his first game for four months
Ilia Gruev starts his first game for four months (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
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Daniel Farke has replaced Joe Rothwell with Ilia Gruev in his Leeds United starting XI to take on Burnley in tonight’s Championship clash.
The Bulgarian made a stunning recovery from knee surgery, staged in October, to make his return to action earlier this month. Gruev begins his first game since September 28 – almost four months ago. Otherwise, Farke names the same XI that took on Norwich City on Wednesday.
Sam Byram, who has been a reliable fill-in at left-back, starts in a back line of Jayden Bogle, Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon, who has begun every league match this season. The only time he was taken off before 90 minutes was against Burnley at Elland Road back in September.
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Meanwhile, behind him, Illan Meslier continues his run of starting every Championship game this season. He has 16 Championship clean sheets to his name, two behind golden glove leader and Burnley No.1 James Trafford.
Ao Tanaka starts after narrowly escaping suspension for tonight’s match, having avoided a second yellow card against Norwich, despite delivering a late challenge while on a caution. Farke branded him “naive” but insisted he did not deserve to be sent off, and has reinstated his faith in him tonight.
Brenden Aaronson starts just ahead of Tanaka and Gruev in attacking midfield. Aaronson has now begun each of the last 27 Championship matches.
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It is no surprise to see Daniel James and Manor Solomon, who assisted each other’s goals against Norwich, begin on the flank. James now has 11 goal contributions this season while Solomon has two goals and three assists in his last four games.
Club top scorer Joel Piroe begins the match as the leading forward, as he looks to build on his 10 goals this term. He has scored just once in his past five matches.
Starting XI: Meslier; Bogle, Ampadu, Rodon, Byram; Gruev, Tanaka; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe
Subs: Darlow; Schmidt, Firpo, Wober, Rothwell, Guilavogui, Ramazani, Gnonto, Joseph.
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