Leeds United finally have back what they have been missing since the international break

Selection debates and uncertainty had muddied the Leeds United waters in recent weeks as their form tailed off after the international break. With each point dropped since Vicarage Road, there has been a constant stream of dilemmas in Daniel Farke’s line-up requiring a solution.

Monday’s win on Teesside should put an end to that with two games of the season left. The confidence of that victory over Middlesbrough should see the team settle back into a familiar routine and hopefully improve cohesion through their final tests.

The injuries to Connor Roberts and Daniel James trim back even two more of the options that might have been realistic alternatives for the manager in his line-up. After that morale-boosting win for the Whites, it would be a surprise to see them anything other than unchanged at Loftus Road on Friday night.

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There remains the slim possibility Farke would trust Glen Kamara to return to the side and move Archie Gray to right-back, but that the latter was impressive on Monday night. The teenager was much more like the midfield string-puller we saw at Stamford Bridge and should be given another go with Ilia Gruev.

Central defence speaks for itself after the Liam Cooper experiment at Watford, while Charlie Cresswell is not even getting into matchday squads anymore. A further two assists for Junior Firpo from left-back only tightened up his hold at left-back as a crucial fifth attacking outlet in this 4-2-3-1 system.

Wilfried Gnonto had the recent upper hand over James down the right flank anyway, but the latter’s injury nails down the Italian for the last two matches if he can stay fit. Georginio Rutter delighted and frustrated in Monday’s win, but he did win the penalty before playing a part in the other three goals too.

Crysencio Summerville barely needs mentioning, while Patrick Bamford, crucially, found the net and seemed far more involved with the attack at Middlesbrough. Clamour for Mateo Joseph was reaching fever pitch after consistently poor showings from senior faces, but Bamford’s experience got him back into the line-up and he should stay now.