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Big Leeds United team news has been provided for Sunday’s Premier League clash at Sunderland - leading to a new predicted line-up for Daniel Farke’s Whites.
Farke has named an unchanged team for United’s last five games but the Whites boss then revealed that key men Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Noah Okafor and Anton Stach were all carrying injuries at Friday’s pre-Sunderland press conference.
The Whites boss said all three were doubtful and that none of them would have been able to play if they game was on Friday, Calvert-Lewin suffering a bruised foot in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United, Stach also nursing a foot injury and Okafor struggling with an adductor problem.
Farke, though, said that an extra two days at least offered hope although the Whites boss pointed out that particular care was needed with Okafor’s issue in being a muscular injury.
It’s a bit of a guessing game but it now looks fairly sure that there will be at least some sort of change to the team for the first time in six games and this is how we think Leeds will now line up.
7. CM: Ethan Ampadu
The captain who Farke often refers to as his most important player and hard to quibble with that view. All set for his 101st game as Leeds captain at the Stadium of Light having reached as 100th as skipper against Man United. Just a case of who partners him in centre mid and in what formation. | Getty Images
8. CM: Ao Tanaka
Sean Longstaff looked pretty bright after replacing Tanaka towards the closing stages of the draw against Man United but Tanaka has been in decent nick of late and Tanaka keeping his place in the middle looks the call. | Getty Images
9. CM: Anton Stach
Whether Stach will be fit to start is a hard call but the German midfielder is made of pretty stern stuff and it's worth remembering that he's battled on through other various niggles and injuries to continue playing before. Farke said his foot was causing him pain on Friday but the fact that it's not a muscular injury and the extra two days after the press conference both give reasons for hope. A key player, Farke will be very keen to play him and it might be that he makes it then. Longstaff looks the most likely replacement if not given that he was the first midfielder off the bench against Man United. | Getty Images
10. ST: Brenden Aaronson
Okafor must be considered the biggest doubt given that his issue is a muscular injury and it would be a big surprise if he makes it or even makes the squad. Farke would then have plenty of options including starting Harry Wilson, Jean-Matteo Bahoya, the fit again Dan James or Lukas Nmecha in a front two with Calvert-Lewin if DCL makes it but the German very often calls on Aaronson and it might be that the tried and tested factor and his energy swings things in the American's favour. | AFP via Getty Images
11. ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Bruised foot? No problem. In all seriousness, Calvert-Lewin's injury is obviously a worry as it's been bad enough to prevent him from training. But the fact that it's just bruising as opposed to a muscular injury and the extra time to recover before Sunday's game both provide big reasons for optimism, not to mention the fact that DCL is clearly one of United's most important players. No surprise if he misses out but the gut feeling is that he might still make it. Lukas Nmecha clearly in a straight swap if not. | Getty Images