Dan James has been promoted for a role against Norwich City

Leeds United limped into the play-off picture amid a late-season slump in form. Here’s the latest team news for the Whites.

Leeds United travel to East Anglia on Sunday afternoon to face Norwich City in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final at Carrow Road.

White’s form collapsed at a time when wins would have seen them clear and out of the top of the table. Leicester City and Ipswich Town also stumbled, but both got results that saw them head for the Premier League.

Instead, Leeds United will try their hand at the lottery that is the play-offs. It’s a lottery they’ve entered before, but have yet to taste success and promotion. With unwavering form and a dreadful play-off record, a win in Sunday’s game against Norwich is necessary for Daniel Farke’s men.

Leeds United team news

Ahead of the game, Farke released the latest on his squad, as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post.

The big news is that winger Daniel James could return to action after missing recent games with an injury picked up in the recent 4-3 win over Middlesbrough. Confirming that James has taken part in team training, Farke added that there is “at least a chance he will be available”.

While that would add a degree of threat and pace to a side not linked to Leeds United, Farke said he did not foresee Welshman James playing a 90-minute role. He also added that it depends on his progress in the next 48 hours.

Worst news, first-choice striker Patrick Bamford will miss the two-legged semi-final against David Warner’s Canaries. He hasn’t recovered from a recent knee injury, with new tests showing “mini injuries to his patellar tendon,” according to Farke.

With this ruling him out of the two games at Norwich City, the Whites will have to look elsewhere for a striker to lead the line for these big or break games.

Provided XI

Meslier, Gray, Rodon, Ampadu, Byram, Gruev, Kamara, Gnonto, Rutter, Summerville, Piroe

With Bamford’s knee injury ruling him out against the Canaries, expect Dutchman Joel Piroe to start in his place in both games. That’s probably the only change with Leeds’ usually devastating attacking line, which largely picks itself.

Given Junior Firpo’s struggles against Southampton in the 2023/24 campaign, Sam Byram could be moved from right-back to play at left-back. He was extremely effective here early in the season. Archie Gray could slot in at right-back, where he could continue his excellent form.

Whichever side Daniel Farke lines up, it will be a team that desperately needs to rediscover their dominance and devastating form from the first three months of 2024, when they completed an impressive unbeaten run.