The Leeds United predicted XI for Saturday’s Premier League opener at Nottingham Forest should carry three fresh faces, with Daniel Farke having already confirmed two absentees and facing a genuine call on the left flank. Kick-off at the City Ground is 3pm.
Farke ruled out Gabriel Gudmundsson and Willy Gnonto at Thursday’s press conference, as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, and Joël Piroe and Sebastiaan Bornauw have both left on loan. Nico Elvedi, signed from Borussia Mönchengladbach on Wednesday, had to be registered by midday on Friday simply to be eligible — a week too soon to be thrown in from the start.
Leeds United predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest
In a 4-2-3-1: Trafford; Bogle, Muharemović, Rodon, Justin; Ampadu, Stach; James, Aaronson, Wilson; Calvert-Lewin.
That hands competitive Leeds debuts to James Trafford, Tarik Muharemović and Harry Wilson, with Justin shifting across to cover for Gudmundsson at left-back. Jayden Bogle and Joe Rodon begin a season they have both already committed to until 2030, and Brenden Aaronson — who signed his own new three-year deal on Wednesday evening — takes the number 10 role behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The one real debate is Gnonto’s replacement on the left. Noah Okafor is the obvious like-for-like, but Wilson’s delivery looks the smarter pick against a Forest side Oliver Glasner has drilled to hurt teams from dead balls — and with card-happy Rob Jones in the middle, set pieces should be plentiful.
Ilia Gruev, Sean Longstaff and Ao Tanaka all have claims on the pivot, and Lukas Nmecha offers an alternative up top. Farke, though, has spent all summer building towards this group. Expect him to trust it.
