Daniel Farke clapping, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin to his right and the Stadium of Light in the background

Daniel Farke and Dominic Calvert-LewinBreaking Media

Daniel Farke forced into unpopular call after triple injury blow - Leeds updated predicted XI vs Sunderland

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24 Oct 2026, 8:00 am

Daniel Farke's attack appears to have been decimated ahead of Leeds United's trip to Sunderland.

The Whites travel to the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon seeking a first win in four Premier League matches.

Leeds most recently played out a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Elland Road, but Farke's starting lineup will now likely look considerably different.

That is amid an injury update shared by the German at his pre-Sunderland press conference on Friday.

Star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a major doubt for Leeds, after sustaining an injury late on against Man United, while Noah Okafor and Anton Stach are also in the same category.

With that in mind, MOT Leeds News looks at how Farke may now set out his XI against the Black Cats.

Daniel Farke left with little choice over Brenden Aaronson

Farke said all three of the aforementioned players would play no part had the game been on Friday.

The two days' extra rest gives some hope they could return, but it seems unlikely at this stage.

While that is of course a massive blow for the Whites, Farke does at least have options to call upon in reserve.

One of those is Brenden Aaronson, who would not be the most popular selection among the Leeds fanbase but the American is still more than capable.

Aaronson could come in for just a third Premier League start of the campaign in place of Aton Stach.

Calvert-Lewin leaves even bigger boots to fill, with Lukas Nmecha seeming the obvious choice to do so.

Nmecha has been restricted to just Carabao Cup starts so far this season, with all six league outings coming via the substitutes' bench.

Now is the perfect time for the exit-linked forward to show why he is deserving of more minutes than he currently gets.

Those would be the only two changes from MOT Leeds News' initial predicted XI vs Sunderland, with Harry Wilson already backed to take Okafor's spot in attack after the latter's recent underperformance.

Sunderland fans apologised to live on Sky Sports after Leeds United prediction

What about the rest of Leeds' XI?

Farke has no fresh injury concerns in defence, with Joe Rodon also now closing in on a return to give the German another option at the back.

For now, James Trafford will almost certainly get the nod in goal, while Jayden Bogle, James Justin, Nico Elvedi, Tarik Muharemovic and Gabriel Gudmundsson look set to continue in defence.

That leaves holding midfield, where Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka should get the nod.

Leeds predicted XI vs Sunderland: Trafford; Justin, Elvedi, Muharemovic; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Wilson, Aaronson; Nmecha.

Gabriel Gudmundsson