Daniel Farke is hoping the “minor trauma in a patella tendon” that will sideline Patrick Bamford from both legs of Leeds’ Championship playoff semi-final against Norwich does not prove a major problem for his team.
It is the worst possible moment for Farke’s key centre-forward to suffer knee trouble and the Leeds manager turned rueful as he welcomed the news that Hollywood’s Will Ferrell had become the latest celebrity to invest in the West Yorkshire club.
After describing the star of Elf and Anchorman as “a great actor” Farke added, somewhat wistfully: “[Ferrell’s involvement] says a lot about the calibre of this club. We are all happy he’s on board. But I don’t think he can help us score a goal at Norwich.”
Sunday’s first leg at Carrow Road takes the German manager back to the club he twice led into the Premier League but Farke would have much preferred to return with Bamford’s name on his teamsheet.
Instead an injury sustained during last month’s 4-3 win at Middlesbrough and initially diagnosed as bad bruising is proving more troublesome than originally envisaged. “Patrick has seen a different knee consultant this week,” said the Leeds manager. “He has a minor trauma to his patellar tendon and he definitely needs a couple of weeks rest. It’s important that other players step up and we don’t feel sorry for ourselves.”
The good news for Leeds is not only that their potentially gamechanging Wales winger, Dan James, has a chance of passing a late fitness test on Sunday and should certainly be ready for Thursday’s return at Elland Road but they arrive bolstered by the confidence of having beaten Norwich home and away in the second tier this season.
“It’s a new competition,” cautioned Farke whose side finished third on 90 points, 17 more than David Wagner’s sixth-placed team. “The two wins against Norwich do not matter. We have to concentrate on now rather than the past. But I trust my players. This is not about me playing tactical chess with the opponent’s manager this is totally up to the players.
“This is a spotlight games and in spotlight games my team is spot-on. We are young and needed more consistency in other games but we played Leicester and Ipswich [the Championship’s automatically promoted sides] twice each and won four times.”
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In the past few weeks Leeds have often looked to be running on empty yet Farke is encouraged by an enduring team spirit, epitomised as his squad enjoyed a group meal during a night out early last week.
“I love and always encourage this sort of thing,” he said. “The group is so tight and together. We have a really great spirit and the players know this is a really important spotlight game. We do not hide away from this.
“It’s the playoffs, do or die. They are special games that really count. We have to be on it. We want to earn the right to play at Wembley in the final.”