Daniel Farke spoke to the media on Wednesday afternoon ahead of Friday night’s huge Championship clash between Leeds United and Sheffield United, and here are five key points he made.
The second international break of the season has come to a close and Leeds are back in action on Friday night, in what is a massive clash against Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United with bragging rights the prize.
Leeds face a side that includes former player Jamie Shackleton as well as summer targets Gustavo Hamer, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Alfie Gilchrist, while Jayden Bogle faces his old side. Here are five key points:
Manor Solomon and Dan James fit to play
The best news from Farke’s press conference is that both Dan James and Manor Solomon will be fit to play against Sheffield United. James has been missing for six weeks with a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, Solomon has been out with a back issue. Both missed the October break, but Farke said: “Good news with Daniel James and Manor Solomon, since late last week back in training, a major part.”
Daniel Farke has good news on Max Wober
There was also some good news regarding defender Max Wober. The left-footed centre-back underwent surgery on his knee in September, and was expected to be missing for the best part of six weeks.
But Farke told his press conference that while he is not available on Friday, Wober is ahead of schedule: “Good news with Wober, he’s ahead of schedule. Could be involved before the next international break.”
Will Cheikhou Kouyate sign for Leeds?
An interesting one is free agent Cheikhou Kouyate. Kouyate, 34, was at Thorp Arch last week and it was understood he may be having a medical, but things have since dried up ahead of Sheffield United.
Farke was asked about Kouyate and while he did not name names, he did say he expects Leeds to make a new signing: “I’m carefully optimistic about bringing in a player in the next few days of weeks.”
Daniel Farke confident Brenden Aaronson will be okay
Aaronson played the full 93 minutes for USA in the early hours of Wednesday morning against Mexico. Given he has to travel and Leeds playing on Friday night, Aaronson is obviously a doubt for Friday night.
But when asked about the American’s possible availability to play on Friday, Farke sounded confident: “The good thing with Brenden is he’s on a top fitness level and pretty sure we can involve him on Friday.”
Will Jurgen Klopp have a say on the running of Leeds?
Klopp has been appointed the global head of soccer at Red Bull, with Leeds the latest club to benefit from the energy drinks giant’s investment. So, could Klopp have a say on the day-to-day running at Leeds?
Well, Farke answered that too. The Leeds manager confirmed that Klopp will not be involved with Leeds. “There are a few RB teams in Leipzig, Salzburg, New York – we are Leeds United,” Farke declared.
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