Exclusive:Daniel Farke sent message over 'direct' 244-minute Leeds United combination that dominated Chelsea
There have been growing calls for two of Leeds United's top performers to get more minutes together.
Former Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford is keen to see fellow frontmen Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha playing together again.
Leeds got a glimpse of their free agent front two during the second-half of November’s 3-2 defeat at Manchester City and it worked to great effect, with both on the scoresheet. A first start together came the following midweek as the Whites physically dominated Chelsea on their way to a 3-1 victory. But since then, minutes together have been limited.
Daniel Farke has been more inclined to deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation when everyone is fit, while a recent switch to 3-5-2 has seen Brenden Aaronson backing up Calvert-Lewin as the main man. All in all, the former Everton man has shared just 244 minutes up top alongside Nmecha including the final 28 minutes plus added-time during Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Sunderland.
That defeat, a second in four days with an unchanged team, has fuelled calls for Farke to potentially freshen things up a little for the final nine games of the Premier League season. And as would be expected of a former striker, Beckford wants more support for Calvert-Lewin.
“I'd like to see the two boys up top. I'd like to see Lukas and Dom up top,” Beckford told the YEP via Ivy Casino. “I think both of them offer something very similar, but they're very different at the same time. They're both physical, they're both happy to run channels, both very direct.
“They end up in the final third of the 18 yard box, slap bang in the middle. So one goes near post, one goes far post. I would like to see that. We saw it in the second half against Manchester City at the back end of last year, and that's where the brilliant run started. That's where it originated. So, yeah, bring back the old 4-4-2.”
Other Leeds United changes backed after Sunderland defeat
With everyone except Noah Okafor currently fit, Farke is not short of options. On-loan Brighton attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte can’t even make a Premier League matchday squad at the minute while football has been hard to come by for others.
Against Sunderland on Tuesday, Farke introduced Daniel James and Willy Gnonto, with the latter making a positive impact. James was involved plenty but lacked the right decision when it came to final moments, while Joel Piroe was on the outskirts of any late drama.
“Yeah, we've got Dan James back, that's a great player to have back, a great weapon to have in the arsenal,” Beckford added of other possible options. “You look at Willy Gnonto, when he came on I thought he did really well.
“Joel Piroe came off the bench. There are players that are fit. There are players that are back in contention. I would like to see him change one or two.”
Farke will have the chance to mix things up when Leeds host Norwich City in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday. The Whites boss is currently due to serve a one-match touchline ban against his former club, having been charged by the FA on Wednesday following his red card against City.
The YEP understands Farke is likely to accept the charge begrudgingly and sit out Norwich on Sunday. That ins instead of risking an unsuccessful appeal which could see him miss two Premier League games.