Credit: Imago

Samuel Fabre

Fri 3 April 2026 18:10, UK

Leeds United striker Lukas Nmecha will have to be at his best against West Ham on Sunday, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be unavailable for the FA Cup quarter-final clash at the London Stadium.

Nmecha had a slow start to his Leeds career after signing for the Whites in the summer, but since the turn of the year, he has really found his feet at Elland Road.

In January, the German grabbed an assist in the third round of the FA Cup against Derby County before coming off the bench to score the winner in a 1-0 victory over Fulham.

Nmecha then scored a penalty and grabbed an assist as Leeds came from two goals down to draw 2-2 away at Stamford Bridge in February, before finding the net again in the FA Cup fourth-round win over Birmingham the next game.

As seen through different spells during the season, Nmecha has been a great signing for Leeds, but he’ll need to step up in Calvert-Lewin’s absence on Sunday.

Lukas Nmecha has what it takes to thrive in West Ham vs Leeds

Daniel Farke hasn’t always opted to use two strikers, but Nmecha’s form in November and December forced him to rethink his tactics.

On Thursday, the German head coach said in his press conference that Calvert-Lewin is a doubt for the quarter-final due to minor problems with his hamstring.

Therefore, Nmecha could play alongside Noah Okafor, and it’s safe to say that the 27-year-old will be the talisman in Leeds’ attack.

While Nmecha has also been impressive in the FA Cup so far, against two Championship sides, he has also had an impact for Leeds in the Premier League.

The 27-year-old has seven top-flight goal contributions this term, despite only playing a total of 894 minutes in the league.

According to Sofascore, he has registered 0.62 goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League, which speaks volumes about how clinical he is.

Leeds will miss Calvert-Lewin’s aerial threat against West Ham, but Nmecha can provide a focal point for Farke’s side that could prove to be crucial.

What can Noah Okafor bring to the team vs West Ham?

As for Okafor, he’ll offer something different to the attack.

Okafor joined Leeds from AC Milan for a fee of £18million, and despite a promising start, injuries have thwarted his development in LS11.

The Switzerland international has four goal involvements in the top flight this season, which is an underwhelming return.

Alongside Nmecha, the 25-year-old’s pace could unsettle West Ham’s defence, especially if the Whites look to hit them on the counter-attack.

A game-winning contribution could kickstart Okafor’s career, and he could play a huge part in helping Leeds reach their first FA Cup semi-final in 39 years.