Every word Daniel Farke said on Leeds United injuries amid double return hope & Anton Stach blow ahead of West Ham
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke will hold his final pre-game press conference of the season this afternoon ahead of Sunday's trip to West Ham.
Leeds United round off their Premier League season at West Ham on Sunday and Daniel Farke will hold his final pre-game press conference this afternoon.
The Whites will play their part in some final-day relegation drama but it’s not their top-flight lives on the line. Farke’s side have been safe for almost two weeks and are instead looking up, with the chance to climb as high as 12th realistically.
Leeds won 1-0 at home to Brighton last time out, a result made even more impressive by the raft of absences. Half a dozen first-team players missed out last weekend and Farke has fresh issues to manage heading down to London.
Anton Stach was stretchered off with a nasty-looking ankle injury last weekend, although the YEP understands a cut will only keep him out for a matter of two or three weeks. Expect Farke to provide an update on that himself this afternoon.
Stach won’t be playing on Sunday but Leeds could welcome back a recent injury or two elsewhere. Noah Okafor has missed two games with a calf strain but after being named in the Switzerland World Cup squad, could stand a chance of returning at the London Stadium.
Similarly, Gabriel Gudmundsson hasn’t featured since the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea with a hamstring injury. Neither he nor Okafor will be rushed back, of course, with both looking forward to a World Cup trip with their respective nations.
Farke is also expected to provide an update on Pascal Struijk (hip), Jayden Bogle (hamstring), Brenden Aaronson (dead leg) and Facundo Buonanotte (hamstring) this afternoon. Ilia Gruev is out for the season with a meniscus injury.
Daniel Farke on fringe players and West Ham relegation danger
That pile up of injuries could open the door for some of Leeds’ fringe players to feature at West Ham, a few of whom could be set to move on this summer. Sam Byram and Illan Meslier certainly look set to do so, the former given his Elland Road farewell last weekend.
There is also uncertainty over the future of other squad players including Joel Piroe and Willy Gnonto, with Leeds expected to strengthen further this summer. Farke is unlikely to provide anything definite on those situations but will be asked more generally about fringe player futures.
Weekend hosts West Ham are heavy favourites to be relegated on Sunday, needing a win over Leeds and Everton to beat Tottenham in order to survive. Any other result will see the Hammers finish 18th.
Expect Farke to be quizzed on the dramatic scenario his opposite number Nuno Espirito Santo faces, and how that could affect Sunday’s game. The Whites boss will make clear his side aren’t rolling over for anyone.
Daniel Farke is due to speak with the media at 1.30pm. Stay tuned for live updates...