Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
09:00, 25 Mar 2026
Daniel Farke faces crunch time after the international break
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Daniel Farke faces crunch time after the international break(Image: Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images)
Daniel Farke will be praying that his international Leeds United players all come back unscathed and fully fit for the final seven games of the Premier League season.
Of course, the initial task is the small matter of trying to guide Leeds into the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in 39 years. Not to mention that the fixture is a psychological battle against West Ham amid the Premier League relegation fight.
Some 12 Leeds stars are off on their travels this break, some of them trying to help their team qualify for the World Cup while others, on a personal level, are vying to make sure they are in the squad for the finals.
There might be no club action this weekend but Farke will be busy plotting out the final two months of the season at Thorp Arch, with those players not selected for international duty still training. Here are three things Farke needs to do before club football returns.
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Find a goals solution
This is namely against a back five. Leeds have not come up against too many packed defences this season but it is no coincidence that the past three goalless games in the Premier League have been against a back five.
In fact, that goalless run stretches to four top-flight matches. Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Brentford means a mini-streak has now turned into an outright concern.
As Farke said post-match, there are goals in this team. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha have 17 goals between them alone. Yet it is clear that Leeds struggled for creativity throughout March, aside from the FA Cup win over Championship Norwich City.
It is therefore also clear that tweaks need to be made - not wholesale changes but the ability to take more risk and increase the chances of reward.
Figure out West Ham approach
Ao Tanaka has struggled for game time in recent weeks
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Ao Tanaka has struggled for game time in recent weeks(Image: David Watts/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Leeds will undoubtedly field a strong XI at West Ham but how many rotation players might still get in? Lucas Perri might well stay in nets as the cup goalkeeper but the likes of Ao Tanaka and Sean Longstaff may be left miffed if they are left out.
At the same time, this is crunch time. As seen with Kepa Arrizabalaga and Arsenal's defeat in the Carabao Cup final, there is little room for sentimentality. Also, Leeds need to regain rhythm and confidence against a relegation rival.
What it does mean, though, is that some might be prompted to think about their futures if they are not used at all. Farke must all the while ensure that squad morale stays at a good level despite any personal disappointment for the most crucial part of the season.
The need to pick players up
Following on from that last point, it could well be that certain key players return to Thorp Arch with heavy hearts should their respective World Cup play-off campaigns not go to plan. Of course, the manner and circumstances will impact the severity of this but disappointment will be inevitable if qualification is not secured.
Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu are all mainstays of this Leeds side and will fancy their chances of doing the job for Wales at home, as will Dan James. Gabriel Gudmundsson’s Sweden might also spy an opportunity should they beat Ukraine, with Poland or Albania to play in their final.
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Joel Piroe would have to do something special to see Suriname defeat Bolivia and then Iraq but he will nevertheless harbour World Cup ambitions. Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel is sending some England players home after the first friendly against Uruguay.
Calvert-Lewin is fighting for his World Cup place amid his first call-up for five years and should he be sent back, he might need a pick-me-up too. The hope is that Farke welcomes everyone back in a happy mood but of course the chances of an all-round success is small.
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These are professional players and one would hope they have tools to compartmentalise their international ventures from club football. But they are still human.
Farke has repeatedly underlined how his players are not robots and he will be keen to ensure everyone refocuses in time for the Easter Sunday trip to London.