Leeds United are back in action on Saturday evening as they welcome Newcastle United to Elland Road, their fourth game of the 2025-26 season and final outing before the September break.
The renowned Elland Road feel-good factor was at an all-time high after the 1-0 win at Everton on the opening day of the season. But Arsenal ripped Leeds of that, with a crushing 5-0 loss at The Emirates.
Paul Merson described it as a “free hit”, and many pundits have made it clear that defeat at Arsenal will not define Leeds’ season. But there is a way of losing and Leeds failed to put a fight in North London.
Then, on Tuesday night, things went from bad to worse. A dismal penalty-shootout defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, a side that are in disarray on and off the pitch, that fielded a team of rookies and youngsters.
Daniel Farke during Leeds clash v Sheffield Wednesday.
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Daniel Farke confirms Noah Okafor is a ‘major doubt’
Going into the game, Leeds will be without Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka. Both players have picked up MCL injuries and while Ampadu should be back after the break, Tanaka will be missing for a few weeks.
Daniel Farke made it clear that selecting his midfield will be tricky, and also confirmed that alongside Tanaka and Ampadu, new £18m signing Noah Okafor is a ‘major doubt’ to play on the weekend.
Noah Okafor of Leeds United warms up
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
“It’s a bit tricky, we’re a bit thin in midfield. We will find solutions, we have the option of setting up the midfield differently. I don’t want to give too much away,” Farke said, on Tanaka and Ampadu,” he said.
“Noah Okafor is the only player to come out of the game with any doubts, he complained about some groin problems. Everyone else came through the last game without any problems, he’s a major doubt.”
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
How Leeds will line-up in midfield against Newcastle United…
Farke will be concerned by the form of Ilia Gruev at this early stage. He helped mop up and keep Everton at bay in the first game, but the Bulgarian was miles off the pace and out of his depth against Arsenal.
On Tuesday night, he partnered Sean Longstaff in midfield and while Longstaff got on the ball and his passing was neat, Gruev was non-existent. But Leeds are hardly left with any other midfield options.
Given the quality of Newcastle, Farke is likely to start a midfield three and a 4-3-3 system instead of a 4-2-3-1 and that means, Gruev is likely to retain his place. It is likely to be Gruev, Longstaff and Anton Stach.
In terms of replacing Okafor, the chances are that Leeds will start with Willy Gnonto and Dan James on the flanks, as they did in both of their opening Premier League matches. Okafor may not be risked.