Leeds United face Nottingham Forest this Sunday with injury dilemmas plaguing a key area of Daniel Farke’s lineup.
United have a real problem when it comes to producing solid performances away from home. Their last two trips away from Elland Road have produced zero goals, zero points and five goals conceded against sides with questionable defensive records thus far.
Up next is a similar test against a Nottingham Forest side in the bottom three with a depleted squad and off the back of a trip to Austria on Thursday.
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Nottingham Forest v Leeds United: Daniel Farke’s team news confirmed – three doubts
For Leeds, they have three doubts to contend with as Dominic Calvert-Lewin recovers from an adductor strain picked up in the Brighton loss.
“It is actually an adductor injury, so a little adductor strain,” Farke told the press. “It will be a tight race so we will make a late call. He is doing his rehab and progressing well but was not in team training yet.
“We still have a couple more days but we won’t take any risks, so it will be a late decision if he travels with us or not.”
Willy Gnonto, meanwhile, continues to work his way back to full fitness as Farke was unable to commit on whether he’d be back in the squad. Sebastiaan Bornauw is the only other concern after taking a knock to his MCL in his knee this week.
Here, I predict the lineup I expect Farke to name as Leeds travel down to the City Ground v Forest…
Goalkeeper: Lucas Perri
Lucas Perri of course keeps his place as first choice goalkeeper for Leeds. Karl Darlow did little to justify being axed, other than the fact he’s the backup.
Perri gets the nod whenever he’s fit because Farke cannot chop and change the ‘keeper position. On top of that, Perri was probably the reason Brighton didn’t make it 6-0 against us last time out.
Lucas Perri splits opinion as Leeds United’s starting goalkeeper right now. (REUTERS/Chris Radburn)
One fair criticism of the number one is that we’ve somehow found the one Brazilian that isn’t adept with the ball at his feet.
However, Farke is setting Perri up to fail right now. For the sake of all our sanity, we need to let him just launch the ball long for our strikers and wingers to get on the end of – playing short out from the back is just asking for trouble.
Defence: Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, Gabriel Gudmundsson
In defence, I don’t think there’s any reason to change anything in terms of personnel. Most of what went wrong at Brighton was down to the fact that Farke set us up incredibly naively. We tried passing through their press and were made to pay, looking woefully exposed all over the back four.
What I will say is that Pascal Struijk has been witch-hunted by certain sections of the fanbase for much less than what unfolded at the AMEX. His buildup is sorely missed in games where United try play through teams.
Jaka Bijol needs a good Leeds United performance under his belt soon. (Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith)
That said, I think Jaka Bijol should keep his place, because there’s a good PL defender there that will get better with more exposure. Joe Rodon obviously remains in the back four too.
At full-back, it goes to show how bad Leeds were overall when Gabriel Gudmundsson and Jayden Bogle had shockers – arguably Leeds’ two most consistent performers this season behind Rodon.
A lot of Forest’s talent is concentrated out wide, so it’ll be another big test for the duo.
Midfield: Sean Longstaff, Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach
The first change I’m expecting in Farke’s lineup is in midfield. Ao Tanaka is still technically Leeds’ most adept player on the ball, but we need to lean far more into the ‘horrible’ side of the game at Forest.
We built a side to be competitive across the board in the summer. Getting back to that is vital at the City Ground. That means restoring Anton Stach to the lineup. The German noted how a broken rib and broken pinky finger was the reason for being dropped to the bench, but with more training and recovery, he should return on Sunday.
The other two slots in midfield ought to stay the same. That means captain Ethan Ampadu and Sean Longstaff keep their place. I have noticed a worrying trend of our recent goals conceded, though. It’s Ampadu vacating the middle of the box, which resulted in Brighton’s second and third goals, plus West Ham’s goal and Burnley’s second.
Leeds need to be switched on to midfield runners ghosting into the box. Ampadu, as captain, has to be switched on.
Attack: Dan James, Lukas Nmecha, Noah Okafor
Two changes are likely in the final third. First, it’s simply a must that Dan James comes into the lineup for his first start since August.
United have been woeful on the right this season outside of Bogle’s crossing. Having a natural winger to stretch Forest and get crosses into the box may be a difference-maker.
Dan James surely set for his first Leeds United start since August v Nottingham Forest. (Action Images via Reuters/Cat Goryn)
Frustratingly, just as Leeds get someone to cross the ball back in their linuep, Calvert-Lewin looks unlikely to be 100% fit, as Farke says he won’t be taking risks. That means Lukas Nmecha probably comes in. There are calls for Joel Piroe, the club’s best finisher, to get his chance. But, we all know why he’s not playing and it’s because the intensity of the Premier League leaves him completely off the pace. A role off the bench is best suited for the Dutchman.
Again, plenty of Leeds’ emphasis should be on getting Noah Okafor on the ball as often as possible. He’s our best and most dangerous attacker, and at the moment, the only player capable of match-winning quality.
Full Leeds United predicted XI to face Nottingham Forest – Do you agree?
