Noah Okafor celebrating scoring for Leeds against Manchester United at Old Trafford
Credit: Imago
Scott Mason
Wed 15 April 2026 10:10, UK
Noah Okafor will take the headlines for scoring two goals for Leeds United at Old Trafford, but the Swiss attacker offers so much more.
Okafor’s time at Elland Road has been filled with bumps in the road, with injuries and a lack of faith by Daniel Farke often minimising his minutes.
Throughout this Premier League season, the attacker has only played 49 per cent of the available minutes on offer.
The 25-year-old may consider himself unlucky to not have more gametime under his belt, but as the season’s end nears, that will surely change.
When Okafor has started, there has been a noticeable positive impact on the results of Leeds’ matches.
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What is Noah Okafor’s Leeds record when starting?
Okafor will be key during the final stretch of the season, with his exploits in Leeds’ 2-1 win against Man United just the tip of the iceberg.
The 25-year-old makes the Whites a better team, and that is clearly evidenced by the improvement in results when he starts.
Noah Okafor at Leeds – Premier League 2025-2026 Total
Points per game when starting 1.43
Points won when scoring 10
During his spell so far, Okafor has started just 20 games for the Peacocks; however, over the last 11 matches he started, the LS11 outfit are yet to lose.
His record currently stands at five wins and six draws. Additionally, over that stretch, he has scored three goals and provided two assists.
Okafor record when starting for Leeds
Credit: Breaking Media and Imago
Okafor’s impact must not be taken for granted, as the Swiss forward is quite clearly a difference-maker for the Elland Road side even without his goal contributions.
Daniel Farke’s risk paid off but he can’t play with fire now
After the win against Manchester United, Farke admitted that Okafor had only two days of training with the team before selecting him to start and stated it was a “risk”.
His phrasing perfectly encapsulates the decision, especially after the attacker only returned from an injury, ruling him out of the previous five matches in all competitions.
On this occasion, the German will get the praise for his decision-making, but he must be careful not to play with fire.
Although the six-point gap at the bottom is a nice cushion to have, the Whites cannot let their sights slip away until survival is confirmed.
Okafor will have a key role to play, and Farke must keep him fit. Risking key players for one-off games cannot happen, especially as FA Cup success could be around the corner too.