Daniel Farke says he will not be risking those who have question marks over them vs West Ham
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
15:00, 03 Apr 2026
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is an injury doubt
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin is an injury doubt(Image: Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Leeds United are at the stage of the FA Cup where playing their best team is expected, to a degree.
In the context of their recent form, Leeds need to rediscover momentum and their scoring boots having not found the net against the last four Premier League opponents. Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final tie with West Ham United presents the perfect chance to arrest their pre-break slump.
At the same time, Daniel Farke has said he will not be taking any undue risks to players who carry any injury doubts. Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed training on Thursday due to a hamstring complaint.
The issue is thought only to be minor with scans only conducted as a precautionary measure but it may well be that Calvert-Lewin is rested, or at least does not start, at the London Stadium.
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The same might apply for Anton Stach. He returned from Germany duty with a hip issue but has since returned to team training. That said, given the fight for Premier League survival is the priority, Stach may be rotated out initially.
This could see Noah Okafor come back into the starting XI for the first time since returning from his hamstring injury. He was called up to the Switzerland squad this break but did not play. His early exit from camp was merely precautionary and he has not missed any training.
Okafor could play behind leading striker Lukas Nmecha in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Brenden Aaronson - who only played 11 minutes for the USA - on the other side in Stach’s wake.
Ilia Gruev might well be given the nod in midfield having skipped Bulgaria duty this break. He would inevitably be joined by captain Ethan Ampadu, who will be looking to respond to Wales’ World Cup play-off disappointment.
The same can be said for centre-back Joe Rodon, who will likely play in the back three comprising Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk. Gabriel Gudmundsson will be in better spirits as he returns from helping Sweden qualify for the World Cup.
He plays for Leeds for the first time since his red card suspension at left wing-back while, if the trip to Crystal Palace is anything to go by, James Justin pips Jayden Bogle on the right.
Lucas Perri, the second choice goalkeeper, will likely get the nod in net. After being the penalty hero at Birmingham City in the fourth round, he kept a clean sheet against Norwich City in the following one.
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Predicted XI: Perri; Rodon, Bijol, Struijk; Justin, Ampadu, Gruev, Gudmundsson; Okafor, Aaronson; Nmecha.