Daniel Farke risks selection error vs Nottingham Forest that could derail Leeds’ campaign
Leeds United take on Nottingham Forest at Elland Road in a huge Premier League clash on Friday evening.
Both Leeds and Forest are currently six points clear of the relegation zone, but West Ham United’s recent upturn in form is cause for concern.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have won two of their last three Premier League games, and went 2-0 up away at Chelsea last Saturday before falling to defeat.
If the Whites can pick up all three points against Forest, it will be a huge boost to their chances of survival, but Daniel Farke must ensure that he gets his team selection absolutely right.
Leeds struggling with injury issues
Leeds will be missing a number of players for their crucial clash with Nottingham Forest, as injury issues continue to hinder Farke.
Lukas Nmecha is expected to be unavailable for the visit of Sean Dyche’s side, and Anton Stach is also out, with a hip problem.
One player who could be back to face Forest is Jaka Bijol, after Farke confirmed that he returned to first-team training this week.
The 27-year-old hasn’t featured since Leeds’ 3-1 win over Derby in the FA Cup Third Round back on 11 January.
Bijol remains a doubt, though, and Farke will have to decide whether to risk the defender on Friday evening.
Daniel Farke can’t afford Jaka Bijol absence
Bijol has missed the last three games for Leeds with a hamstring injury, with the likes of James Justin and Sebastiaan Bornauw filling in at centre-back.
Farke may be tempted to throw the Slovenian defender straight back into the starting lineup given the importance of the clash with Forest, but the German must tread carefully.
If Bijol is rushed back from injury, he risks aggravating the issue further, which could lead to a longer spell on the sidelines.
He has been such an important player for the Whites over the past few months, so Farke cannot afford to lose him for an extended period.
The Leeds boss must consider the long-term picture when making a final decision on Bijol, to ensure that he doesn’t derail the whole season.
The clash with Forest is massive, but Farke cannot risk any sort of further setback for Bijol at this key point in the campaign.