Noah Okafor injury latest in complicated Leeds United team news vs Norwich City
Noah Okafor isn’t available as Leeds United face Norwich City in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Daniel Farke has revealed that the Switzerland international has not yet taken part in team training, but the rest of his squad will hopefully be fit enough to play at Elland Road on 8 March in the fifth round of the cup competition.
The German manager expects Philippe Clement to play his strongest side in LS11, but he doesn’t want to risk players against his former side and the Whites will be careful with their team selection.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on 6 March, Farke said, “I think they will play their strongest starting lineup. Makes it even a bit more complicated because for us it’s the third game within this week, but nevertheless we want to put a lineup out where we don’t risk any players and of course are a bit careful, but also are strong enough to give ourselves a chance to go to the quarter-final.
“Okafor is not in team training yet. So, for that, he’s not available for this game. All the others seem to be alright, and if nothing happens in the next couple of days, I should have, apart from Okafor, a full squad available.”
Leeds United player’s future already decided ahead of Norwich game
Joel Piroe will surely hope to feature for Leeds against Norwich in the cup tie after struggling for game time in the Premier League.
The Suriname international was the Whites’ leading goalscorer in the Championship last season, winning the golden boot.
In the current campaign, the 26-year-old has been a bit-part player for the West Yorkshire outfit, playing just 217 minutes in the top flight.
Even if Piroe starts against the Canaries at Elland Road and is handed more opportunities until the end of the season, his future is likely away from LS11.
The former PSV Eindhoven attacker will surely be looking for a way out of the Peacocks in the summer transfer window and it remains to be seen where his future lies.
Daniel Farke worried about one position at Elland Road
Farke has seen Leeds lose back-to-back Premier League games against Manchester City and Sunderland, and he must now figure out a tactical shift to turn things around.
The midfield has struggled to control games for the Whites in recent matches, with Ilia Gruev and Brenden Aaronson failing to live up to expectations.
Instead of making wholesale changes to the West Yorkshire outfit’s starting lineup, the German manager would be better suited to make a few tweaks, such as bringing in Ao Tanaka, Lukas Nmecha and Jaka Bijol to build confidence ahead of the upcoming league matches.
It will be interesting to see which direction Farke takes regarding his team selection, with the Peacocks’ main priority being to avoid relegation.
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