Triple boost but second defender now missing in Leeds United team at Sunderland as youngster makes bench

Whites boss Daniel Farke has named his Leeds United team for Sunday afternoon’s Premier League clash at Sunderland where there’s a triple boost but a second defender now missing.

Farke revealed at Friday’s pre-match press conference that key trio Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach and Noah Okafor were all carrying injuries ahead of the trip to Sunderland and that none of them would have been able to play had the game been on Friday.

Calvert-Lewin suffered a bruised foot following a challenge from Diogo Dalot in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United whilst Stach was also left with a foot problem on the back of the match against the Red Devils.

Okafor, meanwhile, said Farke, had been struggling with adductor problems after the Roses derby, the Whites boss particularly cautious about Okafor’s issue in being a muscular injury unlike Calvert-Lewin and Stach’s issues.

None of the trio were ruled out, Farke highlighting the positive of having two more days until facing the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light.

In a huge triple boost, all three make the matchday squad although only Calvert-Lewin starts as both Stach and Okafor are named on the bench.

There is, though, now another defender missing, Nico Elvedi not part of the squad due to illness and replaced by Jaka Bijol in the XI as youngster Alfie Cresswell makes the bench.

Stach and Okafor meanwhile are replaced by Harry Wilson and Brenden Aaronson to complete the three changes to the side.

Farke also revealed on Friday that winger Dan James was now back in contention having had his first full week of training since recovering from the back injury suffered during the international break with Wales. James, though, again fails to make the bench.

Joe Rodon had already been ruled out, the centre-back still recovering from the hamstring injury suffered in the 1-1 draw at home to Brentford at end of August.

In a big boost for Sunderland, striker Brian Brobbey returns to the starting line up after a hamstring injury as one of three changes to the side.

Luke O’Nien and Nilson Angulo also come into the XI as Omar Alderete and Timur Tutierov drop to the bench and the suspended Kevin Danso misses out completely.

Sunderland: Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, O’Nien, Reinildo, Xhaka, Le Fée, Sadiki, Rigg, Angulo, Brobbey. Subs: Ellborg, Methalie, Alderete, Diarra, Ahoka, Talbi, Fofana, Juan Riquelme, Tutierov.

Leeds United: Trafford; Bogle, Justin, Elvedi, Muharemovic, Gudmundsson; Ampadu, Tanaka; Wilson, Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin. Subs: Zetterer, Cresswell, Bard, Longstaff, Gruev, Stach, Okafor, Bahoya, Nmecha.