Leeds United have an FA Cup quarter-final against West Ham to look forward to on Sunday, but their bigger priority is the fight for survival across their final seven Premier League games.
They are four points clear of the relegation zone, though their form is a major concern. Leeds have not won any of their last six league matches and have gone 419 minutes without scoring.
Daniel Farke will be relying on his key players to step up if they are to gather enough points in the coming weeks and secure their top-flight status.
Most Leeds players have returned without any obvious injury worries. However, the situation around Noah Okafor has continued to create some confusion.
Murat Yakin makes fitness admission about Noah Okafor
Noah Okafor missed Switzerland’s 0-0 draw against Norway due to concerns over his fitness, and Murat Yakin didn’t want to risk him in the fixture.
He was also an unused substitute in the 4-3 defeat to Germany after suffering some discomfort during the warm-up sessions.
Okafor returned to the Switzerland set-up after a significant gap, but didn’t get to play due to concerns over his fitness ahead of a busy period of the season.
Yakin is expected to pick the Leeds winger in his World Cup squad. However, the Switzerland boss has raised concerns over his fitness ahead of the summer.
He has been quoted as saying by BlueWin.ch: “In training and also after we visited Leeds, I saw that he has made positive progress. In his personality as well.
“I hope he’s fit and in rhythm by the World Cup. We don’t have many options of his quality in attack.”
Will Leeds risk him against West Ham?
The winger has played down concerns around his fitness. However, there are still question marks over his availability for the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday.
For Leeds fans, the thought of a Wembley trip for an FA Cup semi-final is incredibly exciting; it is the kind of run they have been desperate for over the years.
But for Daniel Farke and the club, Premier League survival has to come first. Staying up means far more than a one-off appearance in the last four.
Premier League Table – Bottom Six (Relegation Battle Overview)
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Leeds United | 31 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 37 | 48 | -11 | 33 |
| 16 | Nottingham Forest | 31 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 31 | 43 | -12 | 32 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur | 31 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 40 | 50 | -10 | 30 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 31 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 36 | 57 | -21 | 29 |
| 19 | Burnley | 31 | 4 | 8 | 19 | 33 | 61 | -28 | 20 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 31 | 3 | 8 | 20 | 24 | 54 | -30 | 17 |
With both teams involved in the relegation fight, neither side will want to take unnecessary risks with key players at this stage of the season.
In the end, Leeds’ campaign will be defined by whether they stay in the top flight, which is why the focus remains firmly on their final seven league games rather than getting carried away by cup excitement.
