Daniel Farke Leeds United press conference injury update as Spence returns but striker 'major doubt' — YEP 22/11/23

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke hosts his pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon as the Whites prepare to take on Rotherham United this weekend.

By Joe Donnohue

Leeds' Yorkshire rivals find themselves in the relegation zone after a difficult start to the season while Farke's United hope to put yet more pressure on the Championship's top two after cutting the gap to eight points in recent weeks.

Ipswich Town and Leicester City are locked on 39 points after 16 games, with Leeds averaging just under 2.00 points-per-game on 31 for the season so far. This weekend's encounter is an opportunity to put breathing room between themselves and the remainder of the chasing pack, several of whom are on 26 points or more.

Farke is expected to provide an injury and fitness update on those players who have remained at Thorp Arch during the international break, which includes Djed Spence, who is yet to kickstart his loan spell at Elland Road after picking up a knee injury two months ago.

All the updates here from Farke's press conference which is scheduled to begin at 1pm this afternoon.

Sam Greenwood £1.5 million option to buy

The Leeds loanee has hit the ground running at the Riverside Stadium, leading to questions surrounding the £1.5 million option to buy included in his Middlesbrough loan deal.

Their head of football has shed some light on the clause in an interview with the BBC.

"It’s not as simple as that. I won't bore people, but it's a difficult one. At the minute he is still a Leeds player and I have to be respectful."

Spence latest

Farke has tended to begin his press conferences with injury and fitness updates, and today is likely to be no different.

Everybody of a Leeds persuasion is keen to know whether Djed Spence will make Friday's matchday squad for the first time in two months.

The on-loan Spurs defender impressed during his cameo against Sheffield Wednesday earlier this season, but hasn't featured since.

Dallas latest

The Leeds midfielder was with Northern Ireland during this month's international break, but not in a playing capacity, unfortunately.

He's still rehabbing his way back to match fitness.

Blast from the past

Andrea Radrizzani has been speaking about his time at the helm of Leeds United again.

“I always said that in life I am attracted to a challenge, so just like it was for Leeds, I decided to help Matteo Manfredi to save Sampdoria from a situation that was close to bankruptcy. It ended on a bitter note, but it was important for my professional growth. I did good things there, but also many mistakes and I hope to learn from them."

Farke on international break

"All in all, we've spent this international break in a good mood, we're in good shape. It's good to head into the break with a few wins. First few days we calmed the load, middle of last week proper training with a small group. The group is growing day to day. Lots of load and lots of travelling [for internationals], there will be some late calls. We have to adapt to the situation, that's how it is."

Farke on workload

"I can't send them [James, Ampadu, Gnonto] into a normal team session tomorrow. We will have a few players heading into this game without one team session.

"I'm not a friend of Friday evening kick-offs. My gut feeling should be the first start on Saturday afternoons. The TV picks how it is."

Farke on internationals continued

"Sometimes after really difficult or important games for the countries, they come back and straight away we travel again. It's always difficult from a mental side. The first game after international break is always a bit tricky, you have to dig in, especially when it's Friday evening. We have to be smart with what we're doing."

Farke on injuries

"Joe Gelhardt, Jamie Shackleton and Djed Spence are back in team training for five days, all three are fully involved. Also some positive news on Sam Byram and Pascal Struijk - the recovery is much quicker than expected. They were both involved today in team training, see how they come through tomorrow's session. All in all it's definitely good news to have them back."

Farke on injuries continued

"Shackleton was not out too long so it's easy for him, Gelhardt out a little longer but he looks right in training. For Djed it's the most difficult, he was out for eight weeks, each and every day helps and edging closer. We make some late decisions, it depends on which positions in the squad we need. A few question marks from players, Georgi Rutter is a big doubt, he got an abdominal strain, hasn't been back in team training yet. A major doubt."

Farke on Everton deduction

"I don't comment on this decision, it's not my topic. Everton was not my problem last season, right now they're playing in a different league - no comments from my side."

Farke on Rotherham preparation

"It's more difficult [to get the message across] because the players were not around. It's always tricky when you don't have them around. We can't put the message across on training pitch, we have to do it in theoretical meetings. The approach of Rotherham is different to Plymouth for example. In addition it's always difficult to prepare for a team who's had a change in the manager position."

Farke on Bamford opportunity

"Yes in general it's always when a player is not available, a chance for others to shine. Will be a late decision on Georgi, I don't speak too much on the starting line-up but I trust all my players and my appreciation for Patrick and his experience. Proved already on this level how important he can be, good to have him back several weeks in training. He trained on a really good level, I would have no problems [starting him]."

Farke on state of the club

"We are still a work in progress, don't get me wrong. We work in many areas in this club to create a bright future. I don't want to praise ourselves too much or feel too happy about everything, stay greedy as a club to develop and make sure we create a high performance atmosphere so we can be successful, but it's a complete different situation to a couple of months ago. This club is in a much more stable position now and on the right path. You have to be careful, momentum can switch very quick. My gut feeling is really good at the moment."

Farke on Leeds youth

"It's quite important because more or less each and every club speaks highly of the youth and the youth as our future, but what is more than words is action. Leeds is a club who always brought young players through and doing the same during the season, I think it's important to do it quite carefully, not put too much weight and pressure on the young lads. When a player is ready to go, if it's Championship or hopefully one day Premier League, you have to be brave enough to allow them to be on the pitch. That's what we're doing with 17 y/o Archie Gray. When you compare our squad with other squads, our average age in our starting line-up is quite young and a cornerstone in the future of the club. We keep going with good work in our academy, not just U21 team but other youth teams. During this international break, I followed 30 minutes of an U13 game, but on this level we try to improve the players."

Farke on Rotherham

"Always important to set the tone, make sure you're in a good rhythm with energy and confidence. The first minutes of the game are decisive, for the mood, belief, self-confidence. Also when there's a goal from a tactical perspective. Sometimes you can't choose, the opponent wants to start on the front foot [too]. We have to make sure our awareness level and sharpness is on the top level. Rotherham in their home games play brave and with intensity and go long balls and fight for second balls. They play with this fighting spirit, we need to make sure we play with the same intensity and aggression. They're fighting with the knife between their teeth for points against relegation."

Farke on man-to-man marking

"In general it will always be our approach to be there and press opponents high and win the ball as quick as possible. With having the same principle and approach you have to adapt game-to-game. There are games who play out from the back and invite opponents, make sure you win balls in special areas, there are other teams like Rotherham who work quite quick with long balls, you have to adapt your pressing behaviour, man against man or zonal behaviour, positioning in terms of which setup and opponent you play and stay flexible. We won't change our general beliefs."

Farke on Byram and Struijk recovery

"We have top class physio and rehab coaches, I have to praise my medicine department they're doing a fantastic job but you also need players who work and are disciplined in their rehab training, their nutrition, sleep and recovery is quite important. Pascal and Sam are very professional in what they're doing. It's a nice little boost they're already back in team training, I didn't expect them to be. We won't take any risk but it's credit to our medicine, sports science and fitness department and the attitude of our players."

Farke on managerless Rotherham

"It's always a bit more complicated because after a change of manager you expect perhaps some other personal decisions, who's in the starting line-up, base formation from the coach, the first two or three games is a bit of fresh air and everyone in the squad wants to make their point. It's still the same squad, I don't expect they will play like Man City, it's still important to speak about general principles."

Farke on potentially putting pressure on top two

"We're not too interested in putting pressure on anyone else, and what it means for the table. If you want to finish in the play-offs you need 20 wins and a few draws, direct promotion you probably need 26 wins and several draws. Each good result is ticking a box and this is quite important. For me it's the last five or six games when you look at the table, crunch time to keep your nerves, but 'til then stay focused on yourself."

Farke on Archie Gray's early England recall

"I'm very happy because it was definitely the right call for him. He's a 17 y/o boy and I think we have to make sure the mid-and-long term future he will be quite important for England, too. We should not focus too much on this short-term success, at this level he has already outgrown. It's always a great honour to represent your country and I don't want to take this away from him. I calmed the load a bit with him in training, he had a few days off. Since Tuesday he's back in team training, he feels refreshed and recharged, it's a good decision for his body and the mental side. I'm grateful everyone was on the same page."