Joe Rodon is back in full training but Daniel Farke has two attacking doubts and a centre-forward with a sore leg ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s arrival at Elland Road on Saturday.
Leeds United host Roberto De Zerbi’s side at 12.30pm on Saturday 7th November, the last game before the international break. Leeds are 12th with 11 points after winning just two of nine league games and last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth was only their second Premier League defeat of the season.
Spurs are one point and three places better off with three straight league wins over Coventry City, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. The referee is John Brooks.
He predicted the team of “Leeds” against “Tottenham”.
Predicted line-up of “Leeds” against “Tottenham” (3-4-2-1): About Us Company Name: Trafford; Justin, Elvedi, Muharemović; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; James, Wilson; Calvert-Lewin
We’ve compared the latest injury news from Farke’s press conference with the predicted XI that have made the rounds and expect him to remain in the starting side at the Vitality Stadium. The back five has been working as a form, if not a result, and with Noah Okafor and Anton Stach, there’s hardly much in store to change it.
What did Farke say about Rodon, Okafor and Stach?
It was, in the manager’s words, “mixed news.” The bright side is Rodon, who missed the trip to Bournemouth and has been sidelined for a long time with a thigh problem. Farke said: “Good news with Joe Rodon, he’s back in full team training this week. Of course he’s been out for a long time, but that’s certainly good because he’s an important player for us.”
The bad side is further ahead. Okafor missed the Bournemouth game with a hamstring problem and Farke believes he has not managed any team sessions this week. Stach has a problem with his leg and has only undergone individual rehabilitation. “Whether both exist is highly doubtful.” He said wake up. “We’ll have to see with Anton and Noah.”
Then there’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin “A bit of bad luck with his foot” and missed Thursday’s practice. He said he was Farke “cautiously optimistic” the striker will be back on the grass on Friday and will be ready.
Defense: the same five, Rodon on the bench
James Trafford: No change in goal
Trafford started at Bournemouth with Michael Zetterer on the bench and this week shows nothing has changed.
James Justin, Nico Elvedi and Tarik Muharemović: middle three
Elvedi arrived at Jaka Bijol last weekend and we expect him to retain his place. Rodon is the obvious alternative, but he’s only just returned to full training after a long layoff, and with the break so soon after this game, we think Farke brought him back from the bench rather than drop him for 90 minutes against an in-form side.
Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson: wing backs
Both started on the south coast and both remain. Their job against a confidence-filled Spurs team will be to go as far as tracking runners.
Midfield and attack: Who replaces Okafor?
Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka: captain and partner
Ampadu puts a bandage on his arm and begins. Stach is highly doubtful with Tanaka guarding the other spot, while Sean Longstaff and Ilia Gruev are options from the bench.
Daniel James and Harry Wilson: behind the striker
James replaced Brenden Aaronson in the Bournemouth game and there is no real case to swap the pairing with Okafor. Aaronson and Jean-Matteo Baho are the attacking options on the bench.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin: leg permitting
Calvert-Lewin is a name where everything works. He is on penalties, the focus of the side and the club are already moving to sign the England striker to a new deal. If he doesn’t train on Friday, Lucas Nmecha is most likely to sit out.
Can Leeds bounce back from Bournemouth?
The defeat on the south coast came on a day when Bournemouth celebrated a club first, after they marked Leeds as the league’s draw specialists. Before that, he drew with “Manchester United” and “Sunderland”. Elland Road were kinder, picking up six points from four home games.
In our opinion, Calvert-Lewin needs to adapt more than Leeds need any tactical changes. If he starts, they will be in focus against a Spurs defense that has conceded 10 goals in nine league games. If he doesn’t, Farke’s thin attacking options suddenly look very thin.
Predicted line-up of “Leeds” against “Tottenham” (3-4-2-1): About Us Company Name: Trafford; Justin, Elvedi, Muharemović; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; James, Wilson; Calvert-Lewin