Daniel Farke said during Wednesday’s press conference that he would have to make some late calls when picking his Leeds United squad to face West Ham on Friday night, and he meant it.
Leeds come into the game off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor. But under the Elland Road lights on a Friday night, Leeds will prove to be stern competition for Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham.
Nuno might have won all four games against Leeds throughout his managerial career, but the Portuguese gaffer is winless in his first three since taking over at West Ham. On Monday, Brentford beat West Ham.
The scoreline read 2-0 but in truth, it could have been three or four. Paul Merson has predicted a Leeds win on the night, in what is already a massive game between the two sides. But Leeds do have injuries.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty ImagesPascal Struijk back in training, but three players are missing
Farke said during Wednesday’s press conference that Pascal Struijk, Ethan Ampadu, Noah Okafor and Willy Gnonto are all doubts for Friday’s clash against West Ham. Illness has affected preparations.
Struijk and Ampadu have suffered, while Gnonto is on his way back after a calf injury and minor hernia surgery. Meanwhile, Okafor has an adductor issue, and all four were deemed doubtful for the match.
However, Leeds have posted a pre-match training video as they often do before a game and it shows Struijk in training. A sign that he will be available, but Ampadu, Okafor and Gnonto were all missing.
Harry Gray, who signed a new deal earlier this week, had been missing with a hip problem but he is also spotted in the training video. It comes after Farke confirmed Gray was back in training on Wednesday.
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Daniel Farke could make as many as six changes tomorrow night
Farke will have some big calls to make when picking his starting XI to take on West Ham. Not only due to the injury issues Leeds have, but because of the team’s performance against Burnley in their last outing.
As far as LeedsUnited.News can make out, only five players will definitely start against West Ham. Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon and Gabi Gudmundsson will start in defence. Dominic Calvert-Lewin will start up top.
Sean Longstaff will certainly retain his place in midfield. Ampadu and Okafor, if fit, would start but they remain doubts. Struijk is back but is under pressure from Jaka Bijol, while Anton Stach has struggled.
The German’s form has dipped, and Farke says it is because Stach is playing with a broken finger and a rib injury. Brenden Aaronson and Jack Harrison both missed chances, and both could be dropped on Friday.