Daniel Farke
Daniel Farke could soon have a huge selection decision on his hands.
Leeds United have to keep up their good form for just 11 more Premier League games to secure their survival in the top flight for next season.
This will not be easy, however, especially in their next outing, with Daniel Farke’s men welcoming Manchester City to Elland Road on Saturday.
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Despite pundits like Paul Merson predicting Leeds to pick up a result, it will be unlikely due to the gulf in class between the two sides.
However, to give his side the best chance of getting something out of the remaining fixtures, Farke may potentially have a selection decision on his hands in the coming weeks.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin may no longer be a guaranteed starter for Leeds
Whilst there is no doubting that Calvert-Lewin has been nothing short of incredible this season, with 10 Premier League goals to his name, the Englishman has not been as prolific in recent weeks.
The 28-year-old has found the back of the net on just one occasion across the Whites’ last six games in all competitions.
Although Calvert-Lewin’s position in the team does not appear to be under immediate threat, if the forward’s form continues to dwindle, then Farke may choose to give Lukas Nmecha a run of games and allow the German to lead the line instead, ensuring Calvert-Lewin has to look over his shoulder.
Whilst his hold-up play may not be as polished as Calvert-Lewin’s, Nmecha has been extremely clinical for Leeds this season, and his goalscoring return of six in the league this season arguably should have earned him more gametime than what he has received up to this point.
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Lukas Nmecha has rarely started for Leeds this season
Of Nmecha’s 21 Premier League appearances so far this season, just seven of them have been starts.
Although Nmecha averages a goal every 121 minutes in the Premier League, he has started just one game in 2026 (Sofascore).
If Calvert-Lewin continues misfire, similarly to how he did with his chance in the Aston Villa game, it cannot be long until Nmecha begins to knock on the door of Farke’s office to demand why he has not been getting more opportunities when fit.
Even if those opportunities came in the form of starting up top alongside Calvert-Lewin, we have seen this work on multiple occasions this season when it has been used, with the game against Chelsea at Elland Road springing to mind.
Perhaps this could be the key to preventing Calvert-Lewin from being an isolated figure at times up top, and ensuring he scores enough goals from now until the end of the season to keep Leeds up, whilst also booking his spot in the England squad for the World Cup.
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