As the Premier League gears up for a pivotal relegation “six-pointer” this Friday, Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche finds himself navigating a significant selection headache, with as many as six first-team players potentially unavailable for the trip to Elland Road.
Farke’s Mathematical Path to Safety
While the pressure of the drop zone looms, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has projected a calm sense of confidence. He believes that securing 12 more points from the club’s remaining 14 fixtures will provide the 38-point total typically required to guarantee survival.
Farke dismissed concerns that the January transfer window left his squad vulnerable, asserting that the current group is more than capable of reaching their goals. He pointed to the team’s recent consistency—having secured positive results in 10 of their last 12 matches—as evidence that they can easily find the six positive results needed to reach the safety threshold. He noted that while his ambition is to perform well in every remaining game, the math favors their survival if they maintain their current trajectory.
| Status | Leeds United | Nottingham Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmed Absentees | Anton Stach (Hip) | Wood, Victor, Savona (Knee); Williams (Susp.) |
| Doubtful | Lukas Nmecha | Matz Sels, Callum Hudson-Odoi |
| Key Returns | James Justin, Jaka Bijol |
Leeds United Squad Update
The Whites will have to shuffle their deck slightly for the Friday night clash:
- Anton Stach: The German midfielder is officially ruled out for at least a fortnight due to a hip injury.
- James Justin: In a boost for the defense, Justin is available for selection after overcoming the toe injury that forced him off against Arsenal.
- Jaka Bijol: The central defender is back in training and could feature after missing three games with a hamstring strain.
- Lukas Nmecha: The striker remains the biggest question mark for Farke, as his recovery from a hamstring issue continues to be monitored.
Forest Facing an Injury Crisis
In contrast, Sean Dyche is dealing with a depleted roster as he prepares for the hostile atmosphere of West Yorkshire. Nottingham Forest is already confirmed to be without a core group of players: Chris Wood, John Victor, and Nicolo Savona are all sidelined with knee injuries, while Nico Williams will miss out due to suspension.
Adding to the tension, Dyche revealed in his pre-match press conference that two more vital starters, goalkeeper Matz Sels and playmaker Callum Hudson-Odoi, are facing late fitness tests.
Despite these setbacks, Dyche remains focused on the character of his squad, stating that “down” moments are when a manager truly learns about his players’ resilience. He acknowledged that Leeds has managed to “steady the ship” following early-season scrutiny of Farke, making the upcoming away fixture an even steeper challenge for his injury-hit side.
Match Day Readiness
| Forest top earners | Gross pay per week |
|---|---|
| Morgan Gibbs-White | £110,000 |
| Nikola Milenkovic | £105,000 |
| Chris Wood | £90,000 |
| Callum Hudson-Odoi | £90,000 |
| Dan Ndoye | £85,000 |
| Ibrahim Sangare | £75,000 |
| Murillo | £75,000 |
| Dilane Bakwa | £70,000 |
