Noah Okafor and Leeds United count cost of tough World Cup | OneFootball

Noah Okafor’s World Cup amounted to just 26 minutes as Switzerland reached their first quarter-final in 72 years, leaving Leeds United with awkward pre-season consequences.

According to Leeds Live, he failed to feature in the 4-1 group win over Bosnia and spoke to Murat Yakin, then made only a 26-minute cameo at 2-0 against Algeria in the round of 32.

Yakin had recalled him in March after a 15-month exile was resolved. A late injury replacement, he played 11 minutes against Australia before a pre-planned return to Leeds, then hit four goals, including a winning brace at Old Trafford, plus two assists in six games.

He joined up still nursing a calf issue but was ready when the tournament began. Despite eight goals and one assist in 28 league games, Yakin preferred Ruben Vargas and Dan Ndoye on the left, and Switzerland’s run has strengthened his hand.

FIFA requires 21 days of post-season holiday, so he could miss the entire US tour after Switzerland’s run, with a Saturday break in France noted, though this is unconfirmed. Either way, he will lose a significant chunk of pre-season and has not started since one May.

Leeds must accelerate World Cup returnees from next week, although Okafor’s Switzerland training should help and fewer match minutes may suit a player who suffered at least four injuries last season. The bigger test looks psychological, after Daniel Farke linked his late-season surge to repaired national-team relations.

Source: Leeds Live