Why Dominic Calvert-Lewin is not in the Leeds United squad at Chelsea | OneFootball

Dominic Calvert-Lewin misses Leeds United’s trip to Chelsea through illness at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. The club said in a post on X that Lukas Nmecha starts up front in his place, his seventh Premier League start of the season.

The striker had taken his Premier League tally into double figures in last weekend’s 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest. On-loan Brighton midfielder Facundo Buonanotte returns to the bench.

Team news dropped at 6.15pm, with six defenders named in the starting XI. Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw came back into the side, replacing the injured Pascal Struijk and Noah Okafor.

It remains to be seen how Leeds set up, but one option is James Justin at right wing-back with Jayden Bogle pushed higher. Daniel Farke could also use a natural defender as a deep-lying midfielder.

With six defenders starting and only Sam Byram among the defensive substitutes, Leeds still have attacking changes available if they chase goals. Farke can turn to Buonanotte, Willy Gnonto, Dan James and Joel Piroe.

Calvert-Lewin now has time to recover before the next league match at Aston Villa on Saturday February 21, 11 days away. Leeds visit Birmingham City in the FA Cup fourth round this weekend, when rotation is expected.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk