Head coach Jesse Marsch was without injured quintet Patrick Bamford, Adam Forshaw, Luis Sinisterra, Archie Gray and longer term absentee Stuart Dallas for Wednesday night’s Premier League hosting of West Ham United which produced a thrilling 2-2 draw. Bamford trained on Friday but Marsch said at Friday’s pre-match press conference that the striker was not predicted to be back to feature against Cardiff whilst Forshaw, Sinisterra, Gray and Dallas remain out.
Marsch also revealed on Friday that a bunch of players had “issues” that he was hopeful they would recover from, saying: “We have a lot of guys that we're hopeful that they can turn around but have a lot of little issues so I'm not going to give you full updates and we are hopeful that some of the questionable guys can turn around and be ready to go.”
The Whites boss was also asked about new signing Max Wober and gave a positive update about the Austrian defender, revealing: “Max, I think, has settled in really well. He had a good training session today. I think, again, he understands what I'm looking for out of him and out of our team and so we'll see how fit and how ready he is for this match but he will be in the mix."
Leeds are back in league action next Friday night at Aston Villa and the Whites have traditionally made a raft of changes in recent years for games in the EFL Cup and FA Cup in which the Elland Road outfit have an appalling recent record in.
Marsch, though, hinted at naming a strong side in his pre-match press conference, declaring: “I know the history of us losing 21 years ago at Cardiff and we expect that they'll be very spirited for this match so we want to put the best team we can on the pitch.” Marsch also revealed that chief executive Angus Kinnear had told him recently that “maybe we should focus on having a good FA Cup run.”
It’s likely to be something of a juggling act and this is the XI that we think will line up at Cardiff who sit fifth bottom in the Championship table having failed to win in their last seven league games which have yielded just four points.
The Whites boss was also asked about new signing Max Wober and gave a positive update about the Austrian defender, revealing: “Max, I think, has settled in really well. He had a good training session today. I think, again, he understands what I'm looking for out of him and out of our team and so we'll see how fit and how ready he is for this match but he will be in the mix."
![Teenage summer signing Gyabi is clearly one for the longer term but the 18-year-old has looked extremely promising in the first-team minutes handed to him so far, be it in his EFL Cup start at Wolves, minutes off the bench in the league game against City or his outings in the mid-season break friendlies. Gyabi was not involved for United's under-23s against Nottingham Forest on Friday night and Sunday's cup clash could offer the chance to shine in a second start.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjJmZDY1MjU2LTNlZTktNDYwZS05YTk2LTZkMTY4ZjdmMjQ5Mzo0ODA2NTM4Yy0yNzRjLTQ2Y2YtYTc0Mi0wNGIzNzJjZjJlN2M=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
7. CDM - Darko Gyabi
Teenage summer signing Gyabi is clearly one for the longer term but the 18-year-old has looked extremely promising in the first-team minutes handed to him so far, be it in his EFL Cup start at Wolves, minutes off the bench in the league game against City or his outings in the mid-season break friendlies. Gyabi was not involved for United's under-23s against Nottingham Forest on Friday night and Sunday's cup clash could offer the chance to shine in a second start.Photo: Stu Forster
![Marsch highlighted the importance of getting Summerville fully fit and sharp at Friday's pre-match press conference upon his recent comeback from the ankle injury suffered against Elche last month in the friendly against Spain. Summerville made his first start since when lining up against West Ham on Wednesday and this looks another good chance for him to line up again. The sort of player who could cause Cardiff chaos.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU1N2FlOTU0LTMzNjktNDFjNS04ZTJkLWU1NmFlOGQxMzEyNTo2NDdhZjIzYS1lYzc3LTQ5NWUtOTBhYy00YjVlYjE2NmM4ZTk=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
8. RW - Crysencio Summerville
Marsch highlighted the importance of getting Summerville fully fit and sharp at Friday's pre-match press conference upon his recent comeback from the ankle injury suffered against Elche last month in the friendly against Spain. Summerville made his first start since when lining up against West Ham on Wednesday and this looks another good chance for him to line up again. The sort of player who could cause Cardiff chaos.Photo: Stu Forster
![Harrison is basically in the same boat as Summerville upon recently returning from injury and another player whom Marsch stated the importance of getting fully fit on Friday. Harrison started against Newcastle before coming off the bench to excellent effect against West Ham and this looks a good opportunity to get more minutes from the off under his belt.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg1OWFkNDlkLTdmNWUtNDE3ZS1hMDI3LWNlNzY4MDlhOGMzNDplMmQyZGFkYy1iYmNiLTRkZDMtOWVhNi05OTM1MDNjNzU5OWM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
9. LW - Jack Harrison
Harrison is basically in the same boat as Summerville upon recently returning from injury and another player whom Marsch stated the importance of getting fully fit on Friday. Harrison started against Newcastle before coming off the bench to excellent effect against West Ham and this looks a good opportunity to get more minutes from the off under his belt.Photo: George Wood
![The versatile Greenwood looks an obvious starter and it's probably just a case of in what position as the 20-year-old has been used both out wide and as a holding midfielder. But if Gyabi gets a start next to Roca at CDM and both Harrison and Summerville line up out wide then perhaps Greenwood will be in the no 10 role. Brenden Aaronson and Willy Gnonto are the leading alternatives but might be afforded rests ahead of Villa. Greenwood next to Gyabi at CDM would be no surprise either.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmZjN2Y0OTkyLWQxMDQtNDAzYi1hOWRiLWQxNDVjZGRkNjRiNzpmNzUyZDJmOC05ZThhLTRlY2YtYTNiNS1hZDIzZjJhMTM2ZjU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
10. ACM - Sam Greenwood
The versatile Greenwood looks an obvious starter and it's probably just a case of in what position as the 20-year-old has been used both out wide and as a holding midfielder. But if Gyabi gets a start next to Roca at CDM and both Harrison and Summerville line up out wide then perhaps Greenwood will be in the no 10 role. Brenden Aaronson and Willy Gnonto are the leading alternatives but might be afforded rests ahead of Villa. Greenwood next to Gyabi at CDM would be no surprise either.Photo: George Wood
![Marsch said on Friday that he was not happy with himself for only bringing on Gelhardt in the 89th minute against West Ham but Sunday's cup clash surely presents a perfect opportunity to get young Joffy in from the start. Rodrigo is clearly well ahead as first choice striker at present but it remains to be seen if he features. Youngsters Mateo Joseph and Sonny Perkins who both played 64 minutes for the under-23s on Friday are the other options but would seem more likely to be on the bench.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjUxNTc0OGZjLWEzOTEtNDhmYi05YjZkLTgzYjE4OGY4ZjY3NToyYWVjNDdkMS04NmI3LTQ3NGUtYjY0YS1jY2JmMzI2M2JjZTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
11. ST - Joe Gelhardt
Marsch said on Friday that he was not happy with himself for only bringing on Gelhardt in the 89th minute against West Ham but Sunday's cup clash surely presents a perfect opportunity to get young Joffy in from the start. Rodrigo is clearly well ahead as first choice striker at present but it remains to be seen if he features. Youngsters Mateo Joseph and Sonny Perkins who both played 64 minutes for the under-23s on Friday are the other options but would seem more likely to be on the bench.Photo: Stu Forster