Daniel Farke shares Daniel James surgery update as three Leeds United players out vs Crystal Palace
Daniel Farke has shared a team news update ahead of Leeds United’s clash with Crystal Palace this weekend, including the latest on injured winger Daniel James.
Leeds drew 1-1 away at Brentford last time out to maintain their upturn in form, which has lifted them out of the Premier League relegation zone.
Palace are favourites to beat Leeds at Elland Road on Saturday evening, however, as they sit 10 points better off than the Whites in the table.
Farke has a couple of big Leeds selection calls to make for the clash in West Yorkshire, and the German has now shared who will be available for selection.
Lukas Nmecha not ready to return vs Crystal Palace
Lukas Nmecha has missed the Whites’ past couple of games, while Gabriel Gudmundsson sustained an injury in Leeds’ last match.
Farke confirmed to reporters at his pre-match press conference on Thursday that Nmecha is still not ready to return, while Sean Longstaff and James are also absent for the Whites.
However, in slightly better news, Farke also confirmed James will not have to undergo surgery – as was first feared – with his return timeframe set for the end of January.
“No surgery, thank god. It’ll be about eight weeks in total [from the injury] before he can return to training,” Farke said.
“Sean is progressing and is doing running stuff, bits with the ball, but we need to reintegrate him into training and he needs a few sessions.
“Lukas is out for the next game, so it’s the same group.”
Crystal Palace eye a first-ever at Elland Road
Leeds have lost their past two Premier League games against Palace, which is as many as they had in their previous nine.
Not that United fans will need reminding, but Palace were 5-1 winners on their most recent top-flight visit to Elland Road in April 2023.
However, Palace have never won successive top-flight away matches in this fixture – something Leeds will certainly hope does not change this weekend.
Being without Nmecha is a blow, but Leeds have coped in the forward’s absence just fine in recent games.
As long as Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues to show the form we have seen over the past month or so, Leeds should be just fine.
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