Joel Piroe would feel like the obvious change for Daniel Farke if Georginio Rutter isn’t fit for Leeds United at Watford.
Rutter pulled out of France’s U21s squad this week due to having to go under the knife for a minor surgery on a hernia, which is an issue that has been plaguing him for weeks.
The 21-year-old posted an update on his condition earlier this week and if the initial timeline set by Leeds is accurate, it will certainly be touch and go whether he makes it for Watford.
With Patrick Bamford having come into the team at number nine, Rutter has played in a slightly deeper position since the turn of the New Year, which is where Piroe had been playing earlier in the season.
Positional wise, that would make Piroe the most like-for-like replacement for Rutter, but in terms of what they actually offer, they couldn’t actually be any more different.
So, with that in mind, Farke should forget bringing Piroe into the side if Rutter doesn’t make it, and get a bit more creative with his options in the three behind the striker.
There is only one change Farke should make if Rutter misses Leeds vs Watford
Leeds have arguably the best crop of wingers across the entirety of the Championship but at the moment only two can start. Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville are the first-choice pairing currently.
While it is hard to argue against that, it has meant Dan James has had to be on the bench over the last few weeks, despite having scored 12 goals and provided seven assists this season.
However, if Rutter is unavailable, Farke should definitely consider bringing James into the starting XI again and moving one of Gnonto or Summerville inside.
Farke actually saw Summerville as more of a number 10 earlier in the season but his incredible campaign has come as a result of him playing off the left.
Gnonto, meanwhile, has played in a central role several times for his country, and would bring that quality in possession which Rutter also has in the middle of the pitch.
An attacking trio of James, Gnonto and Summerville just behind Bamford would be far more like for like than if Piroe was in there.
Early predicted Leeds XI for Watford
Rutter is one of potentially two changes Farke is likely to make from the side that beat Millwall 2-0 in the final game before the international break.
Sam Byram is almost a nailed on starter at left-back in place of Junior Firpo, with the 27-year-old still in international action for the Dominican Republic over in Peru at 1.30am UK time on Wednesday.
If Rutter is fit, it is hard to see Farke dropping him from the XI given how important he has been this season with his creativity and ball-carrying.
Elsewhere, it is likely to stay the same providing all of Leeds’ international players come through each of their fixtures without any injury problems.