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Joe Donnohue

Confirmed Leeds United team news as Marcelo Bielsa makes ruthless Joe Gelhardt call

Leeds United take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium tonight, hoping to repeat the heroics of April 10 when a late Stuart Dallas winner sealed all three points.

The two sides are in markedly different form heading into this contest, as opposed to the run-up to that April fixture earlier this year.

Leeds are fresh from defeat in the capital, succumbing 3-2 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, while Manchester City are on a six-game winning streak in domestic competition.

The Cityzens were beaten in the UEFA Champions League last week by German side RB Leipzig, but returned to form with a hard-fought 1-0 win at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend.

This evening, Marcelo Bielsa takes a largely identical squad to the one that was defeated in London, to the blue half of Manchester, naming an unchanged XI.

Pascal Struijk misses out yet again after injuring his foot in training the day before Chelsea. Bielsa revealed that two bones had 'collided' in the Dutchman's foot, causing pain and discomfort.

Adam Forshaw starts in the holding midfield role once more, deputising for the injured Kalvin Phillips.

Stand-in captain Luke Ayling remains with the armband in central defence, accompanying Spanish international Diego Llorente.

Jamie Shackleton, meanwhile, is on four yellow cards for the season and will incur an automatic one-match ban should he pick up another caution tonight. He also starts again, as he did at Chelsea.

The key question mark surrounding Marcelo Bielsa's team selection this evening was who would start in attack?

Tyler Roberts and Daniel James led the line at the Bridge, flanked by Raphinha. However, Joe Gelhardt's goalscoring introduction from the bench has led many fans to call for the teenager to make only his second Premier League start at the Etihad Stadium.

Bielsa has chosen the youthful trio of James, Roberts and Raphinha over 19-year-old Gelhardt, who will begin the game on the bench.

Leeds United XI: Meslier; Dallas, Ayling, Llorente, Firpo; Forshaw, Shackleton, Harrison; Raphinha, James, Roberts

Subs: Klaesson, Cresswell, Drameh, Klich, Jenkins, McCarron, Gelhardt, Summerville, Greenwood

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