By OkayGoal
Joe Rodon is back in full training, but Daniel Farke has two attacking doubts and a centre-forward nursing a sore foot before Tottenham Hotspur come to Elland Road on Saturday.
Leeds United host Roberto De Zerbi’s side at 12.30pm on Saturday 7 November, the last game before the international break. Leeds sit 12th on 11 points after winning just two of their nine league games, and the 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth last weekend was only their second Premier League loss of the season.
Spurs arrive one point and three places better off, on a run of three straight league wins over Coventry City, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. John Brooks is the referee.
Leeds predicted lineup vs Tottenham
Leeds predicted lineup vs Tottenham (3-4-2-1): Trafford; Justin, Elvedi, Muharemović; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; James, Wilson; Calvert-Lewin
We have compared the latest injury news from Farke’s press conference with the predicted XIs doing the rounds, and we expect him to stick with the side that started at the Vitality Stadium. The back five worked as a shape even if the result didn’t, and with Noah Okafor and Anton Stach both unlikely, there isn’t much in reserve to change it.
What did Farke say about Rodon, Okafor and Stach?
It was, in the manager’s words, “some mixed news”. The good part is Rodon, who missed the trip to Bournemouth and has been out for a long spell with a hamstring problem. Farke said: “Good news with Joe Rodon, he is back in full team training during this week. Of course he was out for quite a time but it is definitely good because he is an important player for us.”
The bad part is further forward. Okafor missed the Bournemouth game with an adductor problem and, by Farke’s account, had not managed a single team session this week. Stach has a foot issue and has only done individual rehab. “Major doubts then both if they are available,” Farke said. “With Anton and Noah we have to see.”
Then there is Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who had “a little setback with his foot” and missed Thursday’s training. Farke said he was “carefully optimistic” the striker would be back on the grass on Friday and available.
Defence: same five, Rodon on the bench
James Trafford: no change in goal
Trafford started at Bournemouth with Michael Zetterer on the bench, and nothing this week suggests that changes.
James Justin, Nico Elvedi and Tarik Muharemović: the middle three
Elvedi came in for Jaka Bijol last weekend and we expect him to keep his place. Rodon is the obvious alternative, but he has only just rejoined full training after a long lay-off, and with the break straight after this game, we think Farke eases him back from the bench rather than throwing him into 90 minutes against an in-form side.
Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson: the wing-backs
Both started on the south coast and both stay. Their job against a Spurs side full of confidence will be as much about tracking runners as getting forward.
Midfield and attack: who replaces Okafor?
Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka: the captain and his partner
Ampadu wears the armband and starts. With Stach a major doubt, Tanaka keeps the other spot, with Sean Longstaff and Ilia Gruev the options from the bench.
Daniel James and Harry Wilson: behind the striker
James replaced Brenden Aaronson for the Bournemouth game and, with Okafor unlikely, there is no real case to change the pair. Aaronson and Jean-Matteo Bahoya are the attacking options in reserve.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin: if the foot allows
Calvert-Lewin is the one name everything turns on. He is on penalties, he is the side’s focal point, and the club are already moving to tie the England striker down to a new deal. If he doesn’t train on Friday, Lukas Nmecha is the most likely stand-in.
Can Leeds bounce back from Bournemouth?
The defeat on the south coast, a day Bournemouth marked with a club first, came after we had flagged Leeds as the league’s draw specialists. Before that it was draws with Manchester United and Sunderland. Elland Road has been kinder, with six points from four home games.
Our view is that Leeds need Calvert-Lewin fit far more than they need any tactical change. If he starts, they have a focal point against a Spurs defence that has conceded ten in nine league games. If he doesn’t, Farke’s thin attacking options suddenly look very thin indeed.
Leeds predicted lineup vs Tottenham (3-4-2-1): Trafford; Justin, Elvedi, Muharemović; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; James, Wilson; Calvert-Lewin