Leeds United travel to West Ham for an FA Cup quarter-final this Sunday.
Leeds United are in FA Cup quarter-final action this weekend and ahead of a trip to West Ham, Daniel Farke will speak with the press today.
It’s been 23 years since Leeds were still in the cup at this stage and they secured a quarter-final place with relative comfort, beating Norwich City 3-0 last time out. Farke’s side have progressed past a trio of Championship opponents, having also beaten Derby County and Birmingham City.
West Ham will provide Leeds with their first Premier League-level FA Cup opponent of the season, albeit they are three places and four points further down the table. Survival is the priority for both but a chance to book a trip to Wembley will not be given up easily.
Leeds’ trip to the London Stadium follows a two-week international break in which all of Farke’s squad look to have come through without major issues. Noah Okafor missed both of Switzerland’s friendlies but revealed this week it was a pre-planned decision, given his recent return from a hamstring injury.
Farke will today provide an update on Okafor and any other potential issues, albeit going into the break his squad was in good health. Gabriel Gudmundsson picked up a knock on Sweden duty but recovered in time to help them secure a World Cup spot on Tuesday, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s early return from England duty was pre-planned.
Any returning blows might only be psychological, with Leeds’ Welsh quartet of Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Daniel James missing out on World Cup qualification. Farke might be quizzed on how those four have returned and what can be done to help them move on from the disappointment.
Daniel Farke’s FA Cup team selection thoughts
If Leeds do indeed have a fully-fit squad, it will be interesting to get Farke’s thoughts on possible team selection. Rotation has been a key theme of each previous round but with a step-up in opponent and the chance to go to Wembley, it could be more tempting to go full-strength.
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The likes of Calvert-Lewin, Okafor, Stach and Ampadu were rested on international duty while other regular starters like Pascal Struijk and Jayden Bogle didn’t feature at all. They should all be recharged for an FA Cup quarter-final but the worst thing that could happen is an injury to a key player.
West Ham also provide an intriguing opponent in that they are a direct Premier League relegation rival and Leeds’ final-day hosts. Farke might be quizzed on the potential psychological impact of an FA Cup victory at the London Stadium heading into that potentially huge league game in May.
And finally, with Leeds so close to a trip to Wembley, Farke will surely be asked about his FA Cup aspirations. The Whites are just two wins from a final and three from lifting the trophy - a time for dreaming.
Daniel Farke is due to speak with the media at 1.30pm today. Stay tuned for live updates...
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