Daniel Farke explains strong Leeds line-up at West Ham amid Gabriel Gudmundsson injury | OneFootball

Daniel Farke named a strong Leeds United line-up for the FA Cup quarter-final at West Ham, citing the lengthy gaps either side of the tie.

Joe Rodon, Anton Stach and Jayden Bogle made their first FA Cup starts of the season. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brenden Aaronson were the only first-team outfielders on the bench. Gabriel Gudmundsson missed out with a minor groin issue after playing twice for Sweden, while Daniel James is set to be sidelined for a couple of weeks with a groin strain.

It has been two weeks since the 0-0 draw with Brentford and, although several regulars were on international duty, few played two full games. Leeds then have over a week before their Premier League return at Manchester United on Monday, April 13.

"First of all, more than half of the squad were involved in important games during international duty, of course, we're in a position where we have all to play for and for that we didn't allow ourselves too many days off. It makes no sense to rest all the others who played no games in two weeks and the next game is just in eight days."

He was speaking to TNT Sports.

This is Leeds’ first FA Cup quarter-final since 2002/03, and they last reached the semi-finals 39 years ago.

"For us, we hope we are able to have a good game and for us also a big game. It's more than two decades ago that Leeds United were in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, so we take this game very seriously and want to be there with the best possible result."

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk