Leeds United

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Leeds United face Watford at Elland Road after an impressive 2-0 victory over promotion rivals Sheffield United.

Manager Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media. Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There are no fresh injuries. Winger Willy Gnonto (shoulder) has some bruising but is expected to be fit. Farke said: “No big concerns, no one picked up an injury during the game, nothing that should disturb us, we have our long term ones but all the others are available.”

• Max Wober, Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev remain sidelined.

• Asked what he has done to ensure Tanaka and Rothwell reflect the work that injured duo Gruev and Amapadu do, Farke said: “We can’t make other players out of them and I don’t want this, we want to use their skills, they are tidy on the ball with imagination and creativity going forward and also breaking the lines of the ball. But of course it differs when you go with a different approach so it needs a bit of time. It’s always consistent working, in the last game they got better and better and long may it continue.”

• Leeds have been linked with midfielders Francis Coquelin, Cheikhou Kouyaté and ex France international Josuha Guilavogui who was recently at Mainz. Asked if any progress has been made on signing a free agent, Farke said: “A bit closer, latest by the end of the next week we will have a decision made but it can happen quick and let’s see.”

• On why he keeps the pitch wet: “We take care of each and every percent and it’s important not to overlook. A wet pitch always helps. It’s important also that the ball boys are not sleepy, it’s important to have the ball speed high. It’s important that the surface is perfect, I am not a greenkeeper but they know my wish. We need to take a look under each and every stone.”

• How he will approach Watford, Farke added: “We always try to be ourselves on the pitch and to be the protagonist but it’s also important to be prepared for different scenarios. It’s important not to be predictable. It’s always to find good solutions but it’s quite often after the game that you find out. We always try to be ourselves.”

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

The latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast has arrived and this week they review Friday's comfortable win over Sheffield United, with a growing feeling emerging that Daniel Farke's side can win the Championship.

Speaking about the 2-0 win, BBC Leeds' correspondent Adam Pope said: "It was two good quality sides feeling each other out for quite a while.

"Sheffield United put five at the back and weren't being adventurous at all - Leeds were by far the better side, you could tell that at 0-0. As it wore on they got the goal and just grew and grew throughout.

"It was a brilliant performance, from front to back - it made me think 'wow!' From all the reservations I had in the summer about the squad, I know they're at the limit with injuries and a couple of players are back on the bench.

"I thought 'wow' if they can do that after a difficult international break - that league is there for someone to gallop away with and I think Leeds are the most likely to do that."

Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix added: "I thought the game would be quite cagey, and I thought they would be more of a match for Leeds - coming down from the Premier League, with good players - players we wanted to buy.

"But, actually they were another team that don't look a threat - and if we can keep chugging on then we can win the league."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Leeds United

Legendary former Leeds captain Lucas Radebe says it is "encouraging" for him that young people are committed to anti-racism movements in the local community.

Radebe - who grew up during the apartheid regime in his native South Africa - led workshops alongside Leeds winger Largie Ramazani at Elland Road for academy players and local children as part of Black History Month.

"It's great coming back and bringing back those great memories from the club," he told BBC Radio Leeds.

"It made me who I am and being able to come back and do different programmes with - like we have been doing today with Black History Month - is very important for us.

"Actually interacting - we had the academy players talk about my background and where I come from in terms of apartheid and racism. Also being at Elland Road, it is very encouraging for me to see young kids are taking up the message and making an impact into their communities.

"This is, for me, very impressive and it makes my day full of encouragement."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

On the latest episode of the My Mate's A Footballer podcast, Joe Wilkinson and Patrick Bamford discuss who decides how a team travels to an away game and what it is really like in the dressing room after a team-mate has made a high-profile mistake.

Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before his side return to Championship action against Sheffield United at Elland Road on Friday (20:00 BST kick-off).

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• Max Wober (knee) is recovering from surgery ahead of schedule but will miss the derby along with long-term injury absentees Ethan Ampadu and Illia Gruev.

• Wingers Dan James and Manor Solomon are back in full training and are available after injury. Ao Tanaka, Junior Firpo, Willy Gnonto and Brenden Araonson will be assessed when they return from international duty. "We need to make some late decisions as need to wait until all players are back," said Farke.

• The Whites boss said he has not had to speak too much with goalkeeper Ilan Meslier after his mistake at Sunderland: "He’s experienced. We didn't have to analyse it too much. It was a situation - it happens once in a lifetime. Most disappointed player in the dressing room [was Meslier]. You're suffering for two or three days, then you get on with it."

• On Senegal international Cheikhou Kouyate, who has been linked as a signing: "I never confirm any names and I won't speak about players who are not under contract with us. I just speak about our players. We have a few ideas and we're carefully optimistic we'll be able to bring in a good solution in the upcoming days or weeks, but I cannot say names. We're not too far from making a decision with the next two weeks."

• Asked about what atmosphere the game will be played in after the death of former Sheffield United defender George Baldock at the age of 31 last week, Farke said: "Always difficult with such a tragedy. Our thoughts are there with him and his family. Even a few players in our squad have played with him. It's unbelievably sad news. It's not easy to get on with it in first few days - you're lost for words and football is not important in this moment. The life of a human being is always more important than any point."

• On preparing for the game: "It's always tricky during the international break for a team with so many players away. I'm struggling to understand the fixture list - playing on Friday night after the international break. We have players who arrive late today. When we play on Saturday, you have at least one training session with the team."

• He added: "It is a bit disappointing and sad because it's a great game. Normally both teams want to be at their best. We knew about the schedule list and, for that, no complaints. Tricky without team training to prepare but we want to find good solutions."

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

On the latest episode of My Mate's A Footballer, Patrick Bamford reveals that the Leeds squad have to pay for the meals they eat at the training ground, with the cost getting deducted from their salary.

Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds

Senegal midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate, 34, had a medical at Leeds United on Tuesday as a free agent following his summer departure from Nottingham Forest. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Cheikhou Kouyate has been at Leeds United's training ground over the international break, but any deal to sign the former Premier League midfielder is "very much in the balance" according to BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope.

Speaking about Kouyate on the latest Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Pope said: "There seems to be some dispute about what's been going on here - but he's a free agent, he's probably best known for his time at West Ham and Palace as well.

"He's a free agent, Senegal international and as I understand he has been round Thorpe Arch but it was very much in the balance as to whether any deal would be done.

"We know [Daniel] Farke doesn't like a free agent particularly, but needs must in difficult times - that's not to say a deal won't be done but it's very much in the balance. I don't know if they're both convinced it's what they all want.

"But as far as I know he's been up there for a little while."

Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix added: "To me if I was at Leeds United, with everyone that has been injured and gone off on international break, the people that are left can't train properly as there isn't enough warm bodies!

"To get a few free transfers in for training sessions with that kind of experience - I think it's a great idea and something that can be done more often.

"Obviously [Kouyate] isn't the first choice person because they'd have signed him already. Having a few extra people around the training ground and squad would be a good thing because the squad may be too thin.

"Sometimes you just need extra people who maybe won't play but they're around in case the worst happens."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Football returns this Friday and it is a derby night under the lights of Elland Road as Leeds United host Sheffield United.

BBC Radio Leeds' Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix preview that important game on the latest episode of the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Leeds United, Everton and Fulham are interested in Steaua Bucharest's 28-year-old Cameroon centre-back Joyskim Dawa, who has a release clause in the region of £4m. (Mirror)

Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column

Senegal midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate, 34, is one of a small number of free agents Leeds United are considering signing. (Yorkshire Evening Post), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Leeds striker Patrick Bamford has pulled back the curtain on the players' pre-match meals, with even customisable pasta options available.

"The majority of players, probably about 80%, will have pasta before a game," he told the My Mate's a Footballer podcast.

"Either pasta or Gnocchi or something like that. There's loads of options. We have to fill a form in on the way. It's like pre-ordering.

"The rest of the staff, physios and stuff usually won't have the pasta. They'll make use of the hotel buffet. Whatever is available. It's all healthy in our section but they eat with us in the evening then some sneak away to the main hotel bit for breakfast.

"On the way down we'll get sent a Google sheets form where you put in your name and it says you have a choice of one of the pastas; Penne, Gnocchi, Gluten Free Penne or Fusilli.

"Those are the pasta options then the sauce options, and you can mix and match if you want, are green pesto, healthy bechamel white sauce, tomato and basil sauce, olive oil and red pesto.

"Then you can add as many of these as you want; peppers, chestnut mushrooms, peas, diced tomatoes, red onions, spinach, chicken, king prawns, chilli flakes, feta, cheddar and parmesan.

"You can put in what you like."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United forward Patrick Bamford has been revealing all about how he turned to a sports psychologist to help him deal with his injuries, after reaching a point where he "hated" watching his own team play from the sidelines.

In a special edition of the 72+:The EFL Podcast, Bamford said: "At the time, I didn't even think I needed a sports psychologist. It was just one of those things that was suggested to me.

"When I really started to notice it helping me, it was when my injuries came. When I was out injured for so long, it actually got to a point where I hated watching my own team play.

"It sounds so strange, but it used to give me the feeling of anxiety or depression or something. Regardless of whether we won, drew or lost, I would just be in the worst mood after watching a game.

"I just couldn't shake it until I had spoken to my psychologist.

"I actually remember that I went through a period where I just wouldn't watch the games, just until I had gotten to a point where I was comfortable with it all again.

"So he helped me a lot through the injury process and with setting my goals, but obviously when you start playing again, the focus starts to change again."

Listen to the full podcast special on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

On the latest edition of the BBC's 72+: The EFL Podcast, Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff present a special episode with Leeds striker Patrick Bamford.

Bamford talks openly about life at Elland Road after missing out on promotion last season and his relationships with current boss Daniel Farke and previous managers Marcelo Bielsa and Sam Allardyce, while comparing the three.

The 31-year-old also reveals what it has been like coping with injuries and angry supporters turning up outside his home.

Listen now on BBC Sounds