Leeds United manager Daniel Farke is finding it increasingly hard to turn the narrative towards him. The fight in the 3-2 defeat at the Etihad on Saturday has helped, but the Whites have come away from Manchester with a fresh blow.
The Whites have lost six of their last seven Premier League games, and the defeat against Manchester City was their fourth in a row, despite the improved second-half performance.
Farke’s stock amongst the Leeds fan base is low. Many do not believe he is the man to dig them out of this hole, and his selections and in-game management have come under fire this season.
However, the Leeds manager’s problems compounded on Saturday as the team returned from Manchester suffering another major blow, which could really test fans’ patience with Farke in the next couple of games.
Daniel Farke will regret the fresh Daniel James injury for Leeds United
James was taken off at half-time, which seemed like a tactical substitution at that moment. However, Farke revealed that the Welshman has picked up a hamstring injury.
The Leeds boss is hopeful that it is not as serious as it is being feared. However, he admitted that the injury didn’t look good at the end of the game.
James could now be out of action for more than a few weeks, as hamstring injuries do take time to heal.
“Daniel James reported some hamstring injuries at half time, so it could be that he has done his hamstring”, Farke told BBC Radio Leeds after the 3-2 loss at the Etihad.
“We have to wait for further assessment. I hope it’s not too bad.
“But straight after the game it didn’t look too good, so it could be that he is out for a while.”
Leeds fans may find it hard to accept Brenden Aaronson’s return to the team
Brenden Aaronson is a polarising figure and is one of the biggest reasons why Farke is not popular with Leeds fans at the moment.
| Competition | Matches | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 13 | 1 | 1 | 796′ |
| EFL Cup | 1 | — | — | 58′ |
| Total | 14 | 1 | 1 | 854′ |
The Leeds boss has continued to play him in big games in the right wing spot when he struggles to create or score goals. He has netted just once this season.
He was taken out of the team on Saturday, with James starting on the right spot on Saturday. However, the Welshman’s injury will almost certainly bring him back in the starting eleven.
With Leeds at home on Wednesday night against Chelsea, Aaronson’s name in the starting eleven will likely annoy fans, and a bad result will only fuel the fire.
Wilfried Gnonto is another option, but the Leeds boss has shown more faith in the United States international than the Italian this season.
Leeds supporters could really turn on the manager loudly if Aaronson starts and Leeds lose against a Chelsea side who are in good form.
