Leeds v Elche friendly - Live on YouTube. 7.15pm

[Kennyb41]

Leeds United take on rock-bottom La Liga side Elche on Thursday evening at the Manuel Martinez Valero Stadium in the first of three friendlies before our clash against Manchester City on December 28 – and here is our predicted XI.

Leeds have been on a training camp in Valencia since touching down over the weekend. Since then, there has been a number of slight concerns regarding injury – and even, two operations. Patrick Bamford and Diego Llorente, namely.

Bamford did not travel and instead, went to Munich to undergo groin surgery. Llorente suffered a hand injury and travelled to Murcia to fix the issue. He was in the gym on Tuesday, along with Luis Sinisterra, who is also recovering.

So, Bamford, Sinisterra and Llorente are likely to miss out. Junior Firpo is expected to fly to Spain this week, but a groin strain prevented travelling with his teammates. Illan Meslier and Kris Klaesson remain home, suffering viral infections.

A challenge from Marc Roca saw Crysencio Summerville limp out of training on Monday. But on Tuesday, he was back in full training. Stuart Dallas is continuing to recover while 26-year-old Robin Koch limped out of training on Tuesday.

Of course, Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams and Rasmus Kristensen are enjoying a bit of time off after playing at the World Cup in Qatar. So, who starts against Elche? Well, Joel Robles is likely to start between the sticks on Thursday.

Cody Drameh has impressed, earning praise from Jesse Marsch for an assist. He could start, with Koch potentially rested. Llorente, too. So, it might be Luke Ayling and Liam Cooper at centre-back. Pascal Struijk to continue on the left.

Marc Roca will surely start, while Adam Forshaw is back and impressing – certainly, from free-kicks. Sam Greenwood in the 10 with Aaronson missing, and then Jack Harrison and Willy Gnonto out wide. Summerville perhaps, on the bench.

Up top, a straight shoot out between Rodrigo and Joe Gelhardt – but to start, surely Spain international Rodrigo will get the nod. Six changes from the loss to Spurs – Meslier, Kristensen, Koch, Adams, Aaronson and Summerville out.

Predicted team :

Robles
Drameh - Ayling - Cooper - Pascal
Forskin - Roca
Gnonto - Greenwood - Harrison
Rodrigo

[1964white]

Ahead of today's game with Elche, Victor Orta represented LUFC at the presentation of the Festa d'Elx Trophy yesterday at the Ajuntamentelx

[1964white]

What a scruffy individual representing our club, you would think he'd make an effort at a presentation, looks like he has just fallen out of bed.

[whiteswan]

What a scruffy individual representing our club, you would think he'd make an effort at a presentation, looks like he has just fallen out of bed.

Looks like he might have just come off the training pitch?

[Kennyb41]

Looks like he might have just come off the training pitch?

H'mmm you've added a question mark.

Now i really much doubt that Swannie, so i'll ask my own.

Looks like he might have just come out of a brothel ? Pay particular attention to his untied bottoms, now that doesn't suggest to me he's been running around training, more like " Oh s**t is that the time, where's mi trackies luv quick, you'll have to untie yourself or wait till i'm back, i'll give you an extra oner"

[Irish Ian]

What a scruffy individual representing our club, you would think he'd make an effort at a presentation, looks like he has just fallen out of bed.

Looks like he has been dragged through a hedge backwards.

[1964white]

Is this game streamed tonight?

Don't think LUTV are showing the game, although they have clips from their training sessions.

[1964white]

Looks like he might have just come off the training pitch?

Looks like he needs a good wash

[1964white]

[Ellandback1]

64 - you beat me to it!!!!

[1964white]

Strong line-up

[Cjay]

Elche are crap, 7 points adrift at the bottom of La Liga.

This better be a convincing win

[Irish Ian]

Wolves kit.

[Irish Ian]

Great camera angle. Elland Rd is pants.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Dodged a bullet through offside. Poor touch from Summerville

[andrewjohnsmith]

Summerville limping off

[Irish Ian]

Jimmy banjoed.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Summerville off on 11 minutes - Greenwood on

[andrewjohnsmith]

Hjelde starting at left back. Promising. In the carabao cup he played at center back. Obviously left back is where we need him most at the moment.

[Irish Ian]

This is what we have been missing