Farke's Leeds have had a tough weekplaceholder image
Farke's Leeds have had a tough week | AFP via Getty Images
Leeds United are currently dealing with an illness crisis as they prepare to face West Ham.
West Ham are in turmoil currently, even after appointing Nuno Espirito Santo to replace Graham Potter. Tens of thousands of fans boycotted Monday’s defeat to Brentford, leaving empty seats aplenty at the London Stadium.
Elland Road will have a very different feel to it, with the Leeds fans firmly behind the current regime, and the Whites may need to lean upon their fans amid an injury crisis.
"In personnel terms we have to take some late decisions, we have a few problems in the offence in terms of availability," said Leeds boss Daniel Farke. "Noah Okafor and Willy Gnonto are making some good progress but were not able to complete the whole team training this week so far. We'll take some late decisions. Perhaps a bit more realistic for Noah to be involved, he wasn't out for as long as Willy."
Farke then confirmed that Ethan Ampadu and Pascal Struijk are also struggling as an illness bug tears its way through Leeds camp. “A few struggling with illnesses," he added. "Ethan Ampadu and Pascal Struijk missed team training today, so question marks about their availability. We'll see who will be available and who we will pick."
Leeds currently have eight points for the season, which is four points more than what West Ham have accumulated so far. The Whites are now three games without a win, while the Hammers are up to five games without a win at this stage, three of which have come under Santo.
West Ham blow
As for West Ham, they will be without Konstantinos Mavropanos, who has joined Niclas Fullkrug on the sidelines. Santo confirmed in his press conference: “Dinos is injured. He came off, and he now has a scan to see the injury he has. I don't know exactly how long he'll be out, but he'll be missing on Friday.”
Asked about his side’s form, Santo added; “We still have problems, and we didn't play well enough on Monday. We have to improve, and that has to come from the players, in terms of their own games, and then as a team, we have to get better too.
“I was frustrated on Monday, because I thought we started well. Then we weren't able to sustain that, so I was disappointed. There are many factors and reasons for that. Brentford adjusted well and gave us problems. And then we rushed and showed anxiety.”
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