Daniel Farke
Leeds United are set to face Sunderland at Elland Road on Tuesday night, and the hosts have received a significant boost ahead of the fixture. Centre-back Joe Rodon, who was substituted during the latter stages of Leeds’ 1-0 defeat to Manchester City due to a suspected hamstring issue, has been cleared to play after scans showed no damage. However, manager Daniel Farke confirmed that Noah Okafor will remain sidelined due to injury.
Daniel Farke said: “Joe Rodon had some problems with his hamstring. Unclear if it was cramp or a light injury. We have scanned and assessed, he seems to be okay so I expect him to be available for tomorrow. The only little question mark after the last game was James Justin because it was a straight leg against him and he needed to be stitched up. He’s also a tough boy so hope he’s available. As it stands, I just expect Noah Okafor to be out for this game.”
Farke also addressed the possibility of squad rotation despite the busy schedule, indicating he is unlikely to make significant changes. He emphasized the importance of recovery time between matches, suggesting that the current schedule allows for adequate rest.
Farke said: “I consider this anyway, always when we have a quick turnaround. In this turnaround I’m not too concerned about the load and the ability to recover. I’m always a bit more careful when we have an evening kick-off and travel. For us we have three proper nights between games, no travel and we have more than 72 hours. If you’re not capable of recovering after 72 hours then you shouldn’t play professional football. But I can always freshen up because of form, little illness, opposition but not one player who isn’t ready to go because he’s tired.”
In addition to injury updates, Farke discussed his recent red card incident following the match against Manchester City. The Leeds United manager expressed his belief that the decision was unjust, as it stemmed from his routine post-match actions.
Farke said: “There was this Premier League statement, they said for entering the pitch. For 20 years after the final whistle I go on the pitch and shake hands with the referee. Everyone else does it. I know there’s this rule not to speak with the referee for maybe 30 minutes but everyone goes to ask a question or shake hands. The problem is after five minutes I have to speak with my players and need to give them answers, then after 10 minutes I go to the broadcasters and no one protects me. Then once I return after an hour the referee is gone. I think it’s normal you share a few moments after full-time, to shake hands. I’ve never experienced that as soon as I arrive he’s there with the red card. I think it was probably because I was jogging on the pitch.”
Farke added: “If you ask me, I don’t think this red card can stand. If I’d have used bad language I’d deserve the red card and would hold my hands up. But I think there is a clear and obvious mistake, so for me it’s never a red card but it’s not up to me.”
As Leeds United prepare for their clash with Sunderland, the return of Joe Rodon provides a defensive boost, while Farke’s focus remains on maintaining team performance amidst fixture congestion and addressing disciplinary matters.
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