Leeds injury news ahead of the trip to Sunderland is not what Daniel Farke wanted to hear this week. The Leeds United head coach says Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach and Noah Okafor are all doubtful for Sunday after picking up knocks against Manchester United, and that if the game were today none of the three would be available.
Leeds injury news: what Farke said about the three
Speaking to the media at Thorp Arch, Farke, as reported on the club website, said the staff first have to “wait and assess a little bit who is actually available”, and that the attacking players from the last game are all doubtful. He explained each case. Calvert-Lewin took a tackle and a foul late on against United and has been struggling with a bruise on his foot since. Stach has a foot problem from the same game that Farke described as painful, and Okafor has an adductor problem.
All three have missed a lot of training this week, Farke added. The positive, in his words, is that there are still two days to try to get them ready, but the question is first who will be available and then for how many minutes. “We will have to assess them and we will need to take some late decisions,” he said.
Anton Stach in action against Manchester United. Photo: Leeds United.
Rodon and the rest of the squad
Farke named Joe Rodon alongside the three as a “major doubt” for the game. He said the others “seem to be okay”. There was one piece of better news: Daniel James has had his first full training week and is, in Farke’s words, “definitely also in contention” for the match.
That is all the club has confirmed. Nothing here says who will start at the Stadium of Light, and any line-up talk before the squad is named would be a guess. Farke himself said late decisions are coming, so the picture could change before the weekend.
For the match-day details, see our Sunderland v Leeds referee and away fan guide. Our Sunderland v Leeds preview looked at the game before these doubts emerged, and we covered the 1-1 draw with Manchester United where the knocks happened.
Source: Leeds United, Daniel Farke gives fitness update on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach & Noah Okafor (23 October).
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