Daniel Farke is set to be forced into a few changes when Leeds United go to Fulham on Saturday, with the Elland Road gaffer confirming as many as five players could miss Saturday’s clash.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Farke confirmed that goalkeeper Lucas Perri will definitely miss the game. After reports emerged of Perri’s injury, Farke said Perri will miss games against Fulham and Wolves.
Then, there are four doubts. Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka were already known, having suffered injuries against Everton and then Arsenal. Amazingly, both midfielders picked up the same rare knee problem.
Farke also reported that both Lukas Nmecha and Joel Piroe have picked up knocks in training. If both are unavailable, it could mean that Dominic Calvert-Lewin could start his first Premier League game for Leeds.
Daniel Farke during a Leeds game.
Credit: Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Leeds player wins first Premier League start for four years
Calvert-Lewin may well lead the line for Leeds on Saturday, but there is another first Premier League start for Leeds that has now been confirmed. Farke confirmed that it will be Karl Darlow that goes in goal.
Not, Illan Meslier or Alex Cairns. Meslier is set to be on the bench as Darlow starts in goal and it will see the Wales no.1 earn his first Premier League start since November 20, 2021. A 3-3 draw against Brentford.
Farke was asked about concerns regarding Darlow, after his mistake against Sheffield Wednesday in the Cup: “If you only look at mistakes, Manuel Neuer has made in Germany, then you have to be worried.
Karl Darlow celebrates Leeds' win against Oxford.
Photo by Cameron Howard/Getty Images
“But we have to look at the career of a goalkeeper and what he does, his consistency. How Karl kept his nerves and how he performed at the end of last season at crunch time, it was outstanding,” Darlow said.
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“Good pre-season, the first games, he looked unbelievably sharp. Top fitness level. I’ve watched his games for the National Team, clean sheets. I’m not concerned. He will come in and deliver a top performance.”
Karl Darlow’s numbers in the Premier League and record v Fulham
When Darlow joined Leeds, he might have thought it a far-fetched idea that he was in the middle of a World Cup year and needed to show Craig Bellamy why he deserves to remain as Wales no.1 until then.
Well now, he is about to get that chance. The opportunity to shine in the world’s best league. It might be his first outing in the Premier League in four years, but it will be Darlow’s 53rd Premier League outing.
His fourth career outing against Fulham, which has been a mixed bag. One win, one draw, one loss. But seven goals conceded and that rate of more than two goals a game will have to change on Saturday.