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David Flett

Full Leeds United squad revealed for Brentford relegation decider with Patrick Bamford back in frame

Leeds United's squad might still be six senior players short for the vital relegation decider at Brentford but the group have received a massive boost with the confirmed return of striker Patrick Bamford to the fold.

Last season's 17-goal top scorer has been restricted to just seven Premier League starts this term due to an injury-ravaged campaign and has not featured since rupturing his plantar fasciitis in the 3-2 win at Wolves in March.

But he has trained well this week and the question now seems to be how many minutes he can play against the Bees, rather than if he is able to get on to the pitch or not.

That still presents a big dilemma for manager Jesse Marsch, as he ponders whether to throw the 28-year-old attacking talisman on from the start or to keep him up his sleeve on the bench with one eye on how events are unfolding at Turf Moor, where relegation rivals Burnley need to match the Whites' result at home to Newcastle to secure survival at the Elland Road club's expense.

It seems most likely that Bamford will begin in the dugout having not played a minute of the last seven contests with Joe Gelhardt continuing to lead the attack and hoping to improve on his return of two goals in 21 outings for the club.

Marsch's other big decision regarding the starting XI would appear to be whether last weekend's goal hero Pascal Struijk should start ahead of Junior Firpo at left back.

Suspended pair Luke Ayling and Dan James remain ruled out for the Brentford Community Stadium clash and the former has also used his enforced absence to undergo a knee operation that could see him miss the start of next season.

They are joined on the sidelines by crocked quartet Stuart Dallas, Adam Forshaw, Tyler Roberts and Crysencio Summerville.

Roberts did return to training this week but, having been out for 11 weeks, will not even be risked on the bench.

The dugout is, therefore, likely to be pretty much half-filled by players again who have yet to make a single senior start in the professional game or have just one to their name, with Charlie Cresswell and Lewis Bate joined by the likes of 16-year-old Archie Gray, Lewis Bate and Leo Fuhr Hjelde.

Full Leeds United squad: Illan Meslier, Robin Koch, Liam Cooper, Diego Llorente, Pascal Struijk, Kalvin Phillips, Mateusz Klich, Jack Harrison, Rodrigo, Raphinha, Joe Gelhardt, Patrick Bamford, Junior Firpo, Kristoffer Klaesson, Charlie Cresswell, Sam Greenwood, Jamie Shackleton, Lewis Bate, Leo Fuhr Hjelde, Archie Gray, Nohan Kenneh, Cody Drameh, Liam McCarron, Jack Jenkins.

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