Leeds United supporters have been left deflated after two chases for offensive players in the final week failed to get over the line.
While Facundo Buonanotte is now reaping the effects of his decision to move to Chelsea following his omission from the Champions League squad, the deadline day failure to grab Harry Wilson stings more given the player signed off on the move.
Either way, Leeds are left with a shortage in attack with fans fearing what this might mean for the season given that club chiefs are not planning to spend in January. Doing a stock take of the squad also highlights another area Leeds will be wary of.
Goalkeeper
Lucas Perri, Karl Darlow, Alex Cairns, Illan Meslier
This is the one area where Leeds are overstocked. Lucas Perri is the clear number one and his performances against Everton and Newcastle United emphasised why. So did Karl Darlow’s mistake against Sheffield Wednesday.
He is second choice with Illan Meslier well and truly ousted. It is astonishing he is still at the club. The goalkeeper who has been chosen to help warm up the primary duo on matchdays has not been Meslier but Alex Cairns. Right now, Meslier is letting himself ebb his value and career fade out of sight.
Right-back
Jayden Bogle, James Justin, Sam Byram
Jayden Bogle has the right-back berth all to himself after bridging the gap between the two divisions almost seamlessly so far. Even when initially out of kilter against Newcastle, he spent the next hour showing why he is perhaps the most in-form defender.
James Justin is a solid back up addition given his 100 games of Premier League experience. Sam Byram offers around half of that and he faces a battle for his place in matchday squads. But not bad depth overall.
Centre-back
Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, Pascal Struijk, Sebastiaan Bornauw, (Ethan Ampadu)
We have put Ethan Ampadu in brackets here because if push ever came to shove then he could be played there - but ideally, as shown by his absence in recent games, he is needed more in midfield. Joe Rodon is the easy first pick in this department.
Who partners him is currently a fascinating battle. Bijol is expected to usurp Struijk before long but the Dutchman has shown his credentials in the two home games. It’s a good sign if either player is on your bench. Sebastiaan Bornauw will be the typical rotation player, only used if required.
Left-back
Gabriel Gudmundsson, James Justin, Sam Byram, Jack Harrison
Like on the other flank, there is a clear first choice here and that is Gabriel Gudmundsson. His football intelligence of when to push up and stay back has been notable since his arrival. He’s also very calm on the ball too.
Justin and Byram are both primarily right-backs but both have played prolonged stints on this side too. Justin came on for his debut against Newcastle when Gudmundsson was injured so the pecking order is clear.
Jack Harrison’s usage at left-back, albeit a very attacking one, against Shffield Wednesday mirrored the thought process Farke revealed against AC Milan in pre-season - he is a stop-gap there if needed with Isaac Schmidt out on loan.
Midfield
Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach, Sean Longstaff, Ao Tanaka, Ilia Gruev, Rhys Chadwick
Ethan Ampadu is out injured
Ethan Ampadu is out injured (Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
As mentioned before, Ampadu’s importance has been clear to see not just over the past few games but nine months, frankly. Five realistic options may look like healthy depth but there’s an important point to take here - Farke’s use of a 4-3-3 means, obviously, there are three spaces in midfield.
The injuries to Ao Tanaka and Ampadu have highlighted, actually, how suddenly ranks can thin. The other three players have to play the full game as a result and tiredness will be frequent when chasing the ball throughout this season.
It’s not exactly atypical that two midfielders are out at the same time at any given club. Even just one more addition here would allay nerves.
Otherwise, it seems Anton Stach’s prominence means Tanaka and Longstaff are fighting over the other primary XI spot. Gruev is clearly seen by Farke as Ampadu's back-up and Rhys Chadwick is too raw at 18 really, and is an attacking midfielder by trade anyway.
Right wing
Daniel James, Wilfried Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson, Sam Chambers
When the options are laid out as such, it is easy to see why Farke wanted another winger on the right. On paper, Daniel James and Wilfried Gnonto might be enough.
But these few opening games have shown that when neither are at top tilt, end product is lacking. In the absence of a number 10 position, Brenden Aaronson has been played on the right and has actually looked better for it.
But he is not getting ahead of either teammate in the pecking order. Sam Chambers, 18, will do well to get any game time this season.
Left wing
Noah Okafor, Wilfried Gnonto, Jack Harrison
Noah Okafor of Leeds United
Noah Okafor of Leeds United (Image: Malcolm Bryce/Leeds United FC via Getty Images)
Gnonto’s ability to play on either wing is helpful, as was seen when Noah Okafor sat out the Newcastle draw on the bench with a groin issue. Okafor will be the primary left winger and should remain so given that having cost £17m.
With Gnonto perhaps more needed as the right-sided back-up when all are fit, Jack Harrison might be the second choice left winger. His promising outing against Newcastle showed that his 170-plus games of Premier League experience could be useful.
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Striker
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lukas Nmecha, Joel Piroe, Harry Gray
Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be the main choice when he is fully fit, albeit with no guarantee he will be for long periods given his injury history. Lukas Nmecha has a similar CV too but has jumped above Joel Piroe in the pecking order given their respective starts to the season.
As all fans are aware, there are obvious risks with the current options. If Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha are both out at the same time, Piroe starts and his back-up his 16-year-old Harry Gray. The 49ers are aware of the risk they are taking but have faith in the medical team to keep the new arrivals on the pitch.
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