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Joe Donnohue

Marcelo Bielsa gives Patrick Bamford cotton-wool treatment as Leeds United team news confirmed

Leeds United welcome Burnley to West Yorkshire today as two sides impacted by the recent COVID-19-related postponements do battle.

Burnley go into this weekend's fixture sitting in 18th place, whilst Leeds are just two places and five points above in 16th.

The Clarets have two games in hand on Leeds, owing to four of their Premier League games having been postponed between late November and the end of 2021.

Leeds saw their Christmas schedule chalked off after a mixture of injuries and positive COVID cases meant Marcelo Bielsa could not field the requisite number of players to face Liverpool on Boxing Day and Aston Villa two days later.

As a consequence, Leeds are out of practice, and somewhat out of form, having gone four games without victory over the December period.

Burnley, on the other hand, are six without a win; beaten 3-1 by Manchester United on December 30, 2021 in their latest fixture.

Today, Marcelo Bielsa has gone with a more senior starting XI than the one which faced Arsenal two weeks ago.

Cody Drameh and Joe Gelhardt drop out of the line-up as Junior Firpo returns from suspension while Daniel James has shook off a hip injury which ruled him out for the game against the Gunners.

Bielsa also confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Diego Llorente had fortunately overcome a bout of COVID to once again be available for selection.

Llorente and Firpo all return to the starting XI in what appears could be a 3-3-1-3 formation to face up to Burnley's two-striker setup.

Leeds United defender Diego Llorente says team must "recover our style". (Getty Images)

Illan Meslier starts in goal, with Luke Ayling, Robin Koch and Diego Llorente positioned in front of the Frenchman.

Stuart Dallas and Junior Firpo are expected to start in the wide-midfielder-stroke-wing-back positions while Adam Forshaw anchors the side at the base of midfield.

Tyler Roberts gets the nod ahead in the No. 9 role, while Mateusz Klich, Jack Harrison and Raphinha make up a fluid attacking trio behind the Welsh frontman.

Gelhardt takes his place on the substitutes' bench this afternoon, but there is no sign of Patrick Bamford who confirmed he had returned to drills at Thorp Arch this week.

Bielsa did admit the England international was 'healthy' but conceded he had not played in four weeks, indicating he would not yet be available for selection.

Leeds United XI: Meslier, Ayling (c), Koch, Llorente; Dallas, Forshaw, Firpo; Klich; Raphinha, Harrison, Roberts

Subs: Klaesson, Gelhardt, Bate, Summerville, Moore, James, Hjelde, Jenkins, Greenwood

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