Two months on the sidelines end for Leo Hjelde today as he returns for Leeds United with the under-23s at West Ham United in a Premier League Cup clash. The Norway youth international injured his knee late on in the defeat at Everton on February 12, but has made a rapid recovery to now start with Andrew Taylor’s side.
Lewis Bate has also been missing from action for three weeks, but returns to the under-23 starting line-up in Romford this afternoon. Meanwhile, Mateo Joseph makes his full debut for the under-23s after that January move from Espanyol.
Charlie Cresswell, Nohan Kenneh, Crysencio Summerville, Sam Greenwood and Joe Gelhardt all drop out of the side after starting the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace seven days ago.
READ MORE: West Ham vs Leeds United U23s LIVE: Early team news and build-up from Premier League Cup clash
Leeds United under-23s: van den Heuvel; Sutcliffe, Mullen, Hjelde, McCarron; Jenkins ©, Bate; Dean, McGurk, Miller; Joseph. Substitutes: Ombang, McKinstry, Snowdon, Allen, Moore.