Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke held a press conference ahead of the Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest this Sunday at the City Ground, offering updates on player fitness and team strategy.
Farke addressed the situation with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who sustained an abductor strain in the last match. Moyes hinted at a late decision regarding his availability, noting, “It will be tight, so we will make a late call. He is not in team training, but we have a few more days, and we won’t take any risks.”
He also commented on Sebastiaan Bornauw, who has an MCL injury that raises questions about his participation. Regarding Wilfried Gnonto, Farke mentioned the positive development of his return to training, stating, “He has been back in training for two full weeks. It’s good to see him back training, so we will see if we take him. It’s not a risk anymore because he is back in training.”
Farke further elaborated on the fitness of Dan James, confirming that he is ready to return to action. “We need him, but we need to find a good balance on creators. Dan fits several of our winger types, so we need to determine who starts the game,” he noted.
When discussing the team’s scoring pressure, Farke emphasized the challenges faced by newly-promoted sides. “You can’t expect us to make as many chances as Haaland does for Manchester City. Our strikers know our position, and we just want to score enough goals to stay in this league,” he explained. He added that player contributions go beyond mere goal tallies and assists, highlighting the importance of their overall workload. “It’s not that we are not brave enough—we just don’t make enough chances,” he remarked.
Leeds United’s focus on team success and resilience in the face of injury setbacks reflects a positive mindset as they prepare for this critical match against Nottingham Forest, aiming to maximize their chances of staying competitive in the Premier League.