Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has issued his injury update ahead of the trip to Nottingham Forest this Sunday.
Daniel Farke must know that he’s in trouble if he’s unable to avoid defeat away at Nottingham Forest this weekend.
While home form will make up the basis of Leeds’ survival bid, their away performances have left a lot to be desired and that has to change after two dismal showings in a row on the road.
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Daniel Farke confirms Leeds United injury news ahead of Nottingham Forest trip
Dominic Calvert-Lewin lasted 65 minutes up front against Brighton before being hooked. He looked completely stranded by an ill-fitting system at the AMEX, and to rub salt in the wounds of United’s loss, he was revealed to have picked up a muscular issue.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Farke revealed that the 28-year-old is now a doubt for the City Ground.
“It is actually an adductor injury, so a little adductor strain,” Farke told the press. “It will be a tight race so we will make a late call. He is doing his rehab and progressing well but was not in team training yet.
“We still have a couple more days but we won’t take any risks, so it will be a late decision if he travels with us or not.”
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a fresh injury doubt for Leeds United’s trip to Nottingham Forest. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers)
As for Willy Gnonto, Farke was unable to commit on his availability despite being back in full training for the past two weeks.
“Willy was out for quite a long time, I would say, with calf problems and then with hernia surgery on both sides,” he continued. “He is meanwhile back in team training for two full weeks. It is good, you can see him growing. He is growing each and every day. He is back and he is also available and ready for selection. There is also a chance that he could be picked for this game, yes.”
Sebastiaan Bornauw, meanwhile, has picked up an MCL issue that means he’s also a doubt for the weekend.
Calvert-Lewin, Gnonto injury news means Daniel Farke’s attacking struggles with Leeds United may continue
This week, I’ve looked at Farke’s attack, and what is going wrong for him in the final third.
To me, there’s two aspects that are hindering him being able to get Leeds scoring goals. The first being that he’s not nearly playing to Calvert-Lewin’s strengths, emphasised by the fact he’s got one goal from 1.8xG so far. He’s barely getting any chances, let alone burying them. The second is that he’s not had a fully fit attack and won’t for this week by the looks of it.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Willy Gnonto may not be fit this weekend for Nottingham Forest v Leeds United. (REUTERS/Jaimi Joy)
Calvert-Lewin being a doubt obviously weakens Leeds’ attack as it looks as though he won’t be fully fit, regardless of whether he starts or not.
His wording of Gnonto’s fitness suggests to me that we’re not going to see him this week either. That is so frustrating when he could be the key to unlocking our pretty stale play on the right wing (unless Jayden Bogle produces some magic).
Daniel Farke may well be staring down the barrel at Leeds United
As for the game itself, we all know that it’s much more important than Farke is willing to let on.
“I think at this stage of the season, you shouldn’t interpret too much into the fixtures because in the end, if it would be game day 36 and there is a team who is around us anyhow, you could interpret more into it,” Farke said, suggesting there’s every chance Forest won’t be a bottom-three side by May.
Undermining the importance of an away game against a side currently below United in the table isn’t ideal.
A defeat away at Forest leaves Farke probably staring down the barrel. His chances of avoiding those unwanted question marks aren’t helped by Calvert-Lewin somehow suffering a setback despite barely being involved. On top of that, he’s not aided by his unwillingness to restore Gnonto to even the bench. Meanwhile, he was happy to persist with Anton Stach despite his broken rib and broken little finger.
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