Daniel Farke’s Leeds United to-do list for the break, from goals to West Ham | OneFootball

Daniel Farke enters a pivotal international break, balancing a first FA Cup semi-final in 39 years with the final seven league games. He hopes his travelling Leeds United players return unscathed for a season-defining run-in.

According to Leeds Live, 12 players are away, some chasing World Cup spots or qualification. Those at Thorp Arch train on as Farke maps the last two months.

Fixing the goals issue, especially against back fives, is urgent. Leeds have four straight league blanks, the latest a 0-0 at Brentford, despite Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha totalling 17. Tweaks, not overhauls, must encourage more risk after a quiet March beyond the FA Cup win at Championship Norwich City.

West Ham is a psychological test and a selection balancing act. Lucas Perri could stay in goal as the cup keeper, though Ao Tanaka and Sean Longstaff may bridle if overlooked. This is crunch time, sentiment is scarce, and Leeds must regain rhythm against a relegation rival while protecting morale.

Farke may need to lift spirits after play-offs. Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Dan James will fancy Wales at home, Gabriel Gudmundsson’s Sweden must beat Ukraine to reach a final with Poland or Albania, and Joel Piroe’s Suriname would have to beat Bolivia then Iraq. Calvert-Lewin is contesting his first England call-up in five years, with Thomas Tuchel sending some England players home after Uruguay, and whatever follows Farke wants everyone refocused for Easter Sunday in London.

Source: Leeds Live