Key takeaways from Leeds United’s Carabao Cup victory at Nottingham Forest.

Leeds United recorded a second win at Nottingham Forest in the space of four days through Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup win - in which three things clearly stood out.

Three days on from Saturday's 1-0 win at the City Ground in their Premier League opener, winger Dan James fired Leeds ahead in the 50th minute and James Justin was eventually credited with United’s second goal from an Ethan Ampadu long throw and goalmouth scramble in the 70th minute.

Upon watching Leeds win at Forest for the second time in four days, Lee Sobot picks out a few key takeaways from the game with three things that clearly stood out.

Dan James has loads to offer and must be pushing for a start

James had a frustrating 2025-26 season which was disrupted by injury and the arrival of Wales international teammate Harry Wilson clearly casts doubt on how many starts he will get this season too.

But on this evidence he ought to get plenty, the winger putting in a very impressive display capped by scoring the opening goal of the game with a lovely chipped finish over Forest keeper Matz Sels.

By then, James really ought to have had a couple of assists, the winger sending in some lovely crosses through the box in the first half as part of an action packed display which also featured some good interceptions and tracking back.

Much depends on what system Daniel Farke goes for but it’s probably fair to say that Noah Okafor and Wilson would the first choice starters on the two flanks either side of Dominic Calvert-Lewin up tops with Brenden Aaronson, James and Willy Gnonto the other options at present.

But James can play on either flank and this was a fine reminder of what he can offer.

Nico Elvedi’s seamless transition into the side and Farke’s new headache

Versatile Swiss international defender Elvedi joined Leeds from Borussia Monchengladbach last week and the 29-year-old looked set to make his Leeds debut as a late substitute in second half stoppage time of Saturday’s league win at Forest.

Elvedi was all stripped off and set to come on only for the full time whistle to beat him to it.

But Farke spoke very highly of Elvedi and the condition he was in at Monday’s pre-Carabao Cup clash press conference and now you can see why.

The defender looked like he been playing in United’s back line for years, settling instantly alongside Joe Rodon and Tarik Muharemovic as part of a display that featured plenty of strong tackles, interceptions and general alert play.

Elvedi came in or Jaka Bijol who himself was impressive in Saturday’s league game but Elvedi’s display on Tuesday night has already given Farke a big decision to make.

The gut feeling would be that Bijol would come back into the side but, like James, Elvedi could not have done much more to advertise his claims.

James Trafford, wow, copy and paste, again

We might be best just saving whatever we write about Trafford after each game and copying and pasting it for the next one.

In all seriousness, it won’t always be so straightforward but the new no 1 record signing was even more impressive in Tuesday’s cup display than he was in Saturday’s already very solid league debut.

Trafford’s save to keep out Chris Wood’s firm low drive was particularly impressive but there were other good stops too and it basically looked like it would take something special to beat him.

That’s because Leeds now have something special in goal in their impressive new no 1 who is undoubtedly England’s future number one too. What a signing.

Other than Joe Rodon’s incredible tackle on Wood to save a certain goal, the performances of Trafford, James and Elvedi were the three things that stood out.

And one more...

What will this season turn out to be? Massive feel good factor sweeping Whites

Okay, okay it’s only two games and it’s pretty clear that Leeds have probably caught Forest at a good time so early in their journey under Oliver Glasner.

But the City Ground is usually a hard place to win at and you can’t argue with two wins there in the space of four days with two clean sheets and a particularly impressive display in the cup win.

Saturday’s game could have gone either way and Forest had chances again on Tuesday with Trafford their biggest problem but Leeds were clearly the better side and the early signs are very very encouraging.

Quite what this season turns out to be is anyone’s guess - that is now the big question - and Farke was quite right to declare at last week’s league opener press conference that the first aim would be to amass 40 points and ensure survival.

But this team look capable of a lot more than that and the final week of the transfer window could really determine just how high the Whites can go.

Another striker or at least an attacker capable of playing as a no 9 looks a must as further competition and cover for Dominic Calvert-Lewin so that Leeds aren’t just looking at Lukas Nmecha as an alternative.

Full-back cover looks the other obvious one, plus a new back up keeper although that obviously depends on what happens with Lucas Perri.

And another winger? Maybe but how many can you have?

In a nutshell though things are looking very good for this team and the delighted scenes in the away end were a joy to see, again.