Leeds United’s hopes of a miracle against Manchester City on Saturday have just become even thinner after Daniel Farke confirmed both Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff will be missing.
Stach was expected. The Germany international was withdrawn in the first half against Aston Villa with a head injury and Farke has now confirmed that Stach is undergoing concussion protocols ahead of City.
Leeds’ most-expensive summer signing will be sidelined until Sunday, when he will be cleared to return to training. That means Stach will miss the City game, but will return in time to face Liverpool and Chelsea.
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Daniel Farke greets Pep Guardiola.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
For Sean Longstaff, things are a whole lot worse. Farke reported that Longstaff has picked up a calf injury and will be missing for four to six weeks. It could mean Longstaff is sidelined for the next eight matches.
Ao Tanaka is an easy replacement for Stach, but with Longstaff also missing, it is unclear who will replace him. Ilia Gruev is not a like-for-like replacement and below, LeedsUnited.News analyses Farke’s options.
Sean Longstaff and Brenden Aaronson in action against Villa.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
New role for £25m star that would free up Dan James
Brenden Aaronson has come under huge criticism for his performances, so much so that Farke jumped to his defence after the loss against Aston Villa. LeedsUnited.News gave him a 4/10 for his Villa display.
Gruev is a defensive midfielder, more suited to the Ethan Ampadu role. But in some games, Farke has pushed £25m Aaronson inside as a central midfielder when making subs and he could do that once again.
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At least, that would see fans get their wish – Dan James starts on the right and against City, pace on the counter will provide Leeds with a chance. Aaronson is probably more suited to a central role, as well.
Daniel Farke shares details of Sean Longstaff’s injury
The other solutions to Daniel Farke’s midfield problem v City
Farke has two other options. Either, he throws Gruev into the Longstaff role. During the start of the 2024-25 season, the Bulgaria star did play as more of a box-to-box midfielder alongside captain Ampadu.
But that was in the Championship, and this is Pep Guardiola’s City. It is either start Aaronson in place of Longstaff, use Gruev in an unfamiliar role, or completely change the 4-3-3 system he is embedded to.
A 4-2-3-1 system would allow Ao Tanaka to play as a no.10, with Gruev and Ampadu offering a double screen of the defence. Or, a 3-4-2-1 system, bringing Jaka Bijol in to form a three-man Leeds defence.
That would see Ao Tanaka play alongside Ampadu, and two supporting attacking players behind a striker. But that may be a risk, given City’s dominance in midfield and the need to pack that area on Saturday.
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