Jermaine Beckford has pinpointed the importance of one Leeds United star who is missing from the Premier League clash against Brentford.
Daniel Farke elected to stick with the 3-5-2 formation, which has served him so well in recent weeks as his side took on Brentford in the Premier League.
Ao Tanaka returned to the Leeds midfield in the only change to the starting line-up that took a point against Liverpool.
Farke continues to operate without a number of his first-team stars, as the likes of Dan James, Sean Longstaff, and Lukas Nmecha all missed the game through injury.
According to Beckford, the absence of Nmecha is the most costly for Leeds, as the German missed the game against Brentford.
HALF TIME: Brentford 0-0 Leeds
Tense contest so far… how would you sum that half up? 🤔
Jermaine Beckford highlights the importance of Lukas Nmecha to Leeds United
Speaking to LUTV in the build-up to the game against Brentford, former Leeds icon Beckford explained why Nmecha is so important to Leeds.
Noah Okafor was selected to partner Dominic Calvert-Lewin in attack against the Bees, and Beckford believes the England international benefits from Nmecha’s physical presence.
Beckford said: “From a striker’s perspective, it’s much better to have somebody you know is going to gamble off your flick-ons or vice versa. You’ve got two big boys up top with Nmecha and Dominic.
“Obviously, the situation around Nmecha at the moment is frustrating because he’s out today. When you’ve got two boys that are physically as strong as them, they’re both really fit, they like to run channels as well, stretch the defenders.
“But they’re also very strong in a physical sense, pinning defenders, winning headers, that builds so much confidence for the rest of the players to squeeze up the pitch, because you know the ball’s not just going to come straight back to you.”
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Noah Okafor had the best chance of a tense first half
Leeds carved out few clear-cut chances in a tight first half against Brentford, as the two sides went into the break locked at 0-0.
However, although Okafor does not have Nmecha’s physical presence, he does offer Leeds a different threat, troubling defences with his pace in behind.
Are you happy with Daniel Farke’s starting XI v Brentford? 📃
One change as Ao Tanaka comes in.
The Swiss international had Leeds’ best chance of the first half, as he broke away and forced a good save from Caoimhin Kelleher.
Okafor also came close to finding a Leeds teammate with a dangerous cross, as the two sides struggled to create a telling opportunity.
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