The striker has two goals in two games but that might not be the only reason he starts on Saturday
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
07:30, 26 Nov 2025
Lukas Nmecha battles for possession with Morgan Rogers
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Lukas Nmecha battles for possession with Morgan Rogers(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Lukas Nmecha is currently Leeds United’s top scorer thanks to his rather fortunate conversion against Aston Villa. He has played almost 300 fewer minutes of Premier League football than Dominic Calvert-Lewin too.
The free agent signing is averaging a goal every 115 minutes at the moment which - for goals per 90 minutes - puts him in the top 10 players across the whole division. And when it is just regarding strikers, he makes the top six.
Of course, one came from the penalty spot and Sunday’s goal was the definition of a poach. Yet the variety of all three goals is encouraging. Showing nerves of steel to net the winner from the spot late on against Everton.
Displaying his clinical eye for goal with a sumptuous effort against Nottingham Forest. Being in the right place at the right time against Villa. This is positive, but is perhaps not the only reason why he could start against Manchester City.
Daniel Farke, who has branded him as one of Germany's best strikers, was particularly impressed with Nmecha’s pressing against Forest and that admiration would have elevated after his shift against Villa. Of course, both were games that ended in defeat, even if the striker managed to find the net in each.
While Calvert-Lewin arguably makes the ball stick more often, Nmecha is delivering the goals and working the ground better. Hassling, harrying and chasing, the 26-year-old hardly ever stopped during his 71-minute outing this weekend.
His heat map shows how wide spread his running was, managing to get touches and navigate into all areas of the Villa half. Overall, United’s pressing game was much more on point and something Farke had worked on in training. It showed.
Usually, the press is triggered by the front three and mainly the striker. Nmecha didn’t win many of his ground duels (one out of six) but his movement sparked others into doing their duty with the whole Leeds team winning the ground duels game (53% vs 47%).
Lukas Nmecha of Leeds United celebrates after scoring
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Lukas Nmecha of Leeds United celebrates after scoring(Image: Anna Gowthorpe/Shutterstock)
Across all phases, United won 62% of their tackles compared to Villa’s 40%. Now, some of this will be due to Villa holding more possession - albeit only narrowly at 52%.
But Leeds are to have even less of the ball at Manchester City - and probably against Chelsea and Liverpool - so this defensive effort will be needed more greatly very soon. And it's why Nmecha might start on Saturday.
Not only does he have two goals in as many games, but his work off the ball would be so vital. He almost certainly would not complete the whole game due to the inevitable fatigue that would set in, plus Leeds need to manage him carefully amid his injury history.
But if Farke wants to go down the pressing route, rather than the park-the-bus avenue - which he has previously said he will not do - then Nmecha is better than Calvert-Lewin and Joel Piroe at this.
Chances will be few and far between at the Etihad Stadium, and Nmecha has shown to be the more clinical striker so far. The attacker has pushed himself to a place where it would feel slightly harsh for him to miss out this weekend.
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