Daniel Farke assesses Leeds fringe as three players aim to stake claims | OneFootball

With 12 Leeds United first-team players away, Daniel Farke can focus on his fringes. According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, the pause precedes an FA Cup quarter-final at West Ham in 11 days and a seven-game Premier League run-in.

Of the eight with 20 or more Premier League starts, only Jayden Bogle and Pascal Struijk remain at Thorp Arch, giving squad players a chance to press claims.

Lucas Perri’s debut year has been tough, he was dropped in January after errors against Manchester United and Newcastle, with Karl Darlow the steadier option. Darlow will almost certainly start at Old Trafford next month to draw level with Perri on 16 Premier League starts, though Perri could get the West Ham tie. As the only goalkeeper not out of contract this summer, he now needs to prove first-choice credentials.

Willy Gnonto has started only four Premier League games and sits behind Noah Okafor and Brenden Aaronson. With Leeds scoreless in four Premier League games, he will back himself to unlock deep defences against sides such as Burnley and Wolves. Omitted by Italy for a window that could clinch a World Cup place, he will be desperate to force a recall.

Facundo Buonanotte’s January loan from Brighton has not worked. He arrived after barely featuring for Chelsea and, though Farke cautioned against expecting an instant impact, he has played 26 Premier League minutes and not made a top-flight squad since a difficult 45-minute FA Cup outing at Birmingham City.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk