Leeds United's Noah Okafor explains injury caution before West Ham FA Cup tie | OneFootball

Leeds United's Noah Okafor has outlined a cautious return with Switzerland after injury, sitting out both World Cup warm-up friendlies during the international break.

The player said in a post that he was grateful to be back with the national team, had given everything in training, and that, so soon after his injury, they decided together not to take any risks.

Recalled to replace Filip Ugrinić, the 25-year-old ended a 17-month absence from international football but did not play against Germany or Norway. He was not in the squad to face Norway on Tuesday. The decision was treated as precautionary for players returning from injury, agreed in consultation with the squad and staff.

Okafor has only just returned from a month out with a hamstring problem, making a 22-minute cameo in Leeds' 0-0 draw at Brentford. Leeds will welcome the careful management of a winger whose one-v-one threat has been missed. He could feature in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final at West Ham.

Others in the group were also carefully managed. Dominic Calvert-Lewin played 32 minutes for England against Uruguay on Friday before heading back to his club. Daniel James and Ethan Ampadu were initially rested then came on for Wales against Northern Ireland, while Brenden Aaronson got 11 minutes for the USA against Portugal and Ao Tanaka featured off the bench for Japan against England.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk