Leeds United vs Plymouth Argyle: Daniel Farke on Archie Gray injury, transfers and team news in FA Cup

I'm very delighted for Junior and a little bit proud because I know he had difficult years and was criticised a lot. I made it clear in our first conversations, he's one of my key players in my thoughts for this season because I'm fully convinced of his potential. The main topic is to stay fit and resilient. It was difficult for him because he was out for several months but we always backed him and told him, 'we wait until you're back'. He's been back in training a few weeks and competitive games, improved game-day-to-game-day. Area for improvement is quite thin because he's playing well at the moment. Good to have him back, not at his best shape but on his way. Chipped in with many assists in recent weeks. Improved his defensive stability and it's good to see this.

Overall he was in training the last weeks absolutely professional and open and honest. We have agreed, and I have also told him, I will not call him to the matchday squad until he is ready to go. We had conversations in the last days. He definitely wants to stay. The door is always open. We were pretty clear it was up to him. I was not annoyed by this situation, it was very understandable, he was a regular starter in the Championship last season. When you're not playing too much, you're overthinking the situation. Right now the door is back open to be reinvolved.

The first topic is we take this game more than serious. We are deep believers in cup runs. We want to be at our best. We want to go through to the next round but we won't do anything stupid. We know it's the third game in six days. This turnaround, late kick off on Weds and then Sat afternoon is a bit more tricky. There will be a few more changes than you'd expect for a league game in such a period. We still want to go with a strong starting XI and go to the next round, stay in our rhythm. Important to find a good balance to win this game, but not doing anything stupid in terms of risking players. Not just because of resting but also because competition in the squad. Recovered players with fresh legs can be more beneficial.

We have a few players unavailable. Archie Gray definitely out for this game, still say some good news because nothing with the ligament, nothing with the ACL. Just a hit and a bruise, but at the moment not possible for him to join us in team training. Also Dan James will be out, it's a little [adductor] strain. I think he'll also be out for the Bristol game, he's perhaps back available for the next home game. We are still without Pascal Struijk and all the other topics.