MOT Opinion: Farke’s Selection Choice May Backfire for Leeds Despite ‘Massive’ Pre-Sunderland Admission

Largie Ramazani, who was signed from Almeria for £10 million this summer, has seized his opportunity to make an impact at Leeds United.

With injuries to Dan James and Manor Solomon, a place opened up in the starting lineup, allowing Ramazani to step in.

Since then, the winger has scored two goals and provided one assist.

However, Leeds manager Daniel Farke is mindful of not overusing the player, especially with the team facing a congested schedule.

Farke, speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post on 2 October, expressed his thoughts on Ramazani’s fitness and involvement: “Three games in six days was never the plan, but if he’s really capable, it would be massive.

I’m pleased with his progress, and the minutes are beneficial for him. Hopefully, he can have a good impact on Friday night.”

Friday’s match against Sunderland is shaping up to be crucial for Leeds United’s season.

Sunderland, the current league leaders, have won six of their eight matches and have yet to concede a goal at the Stadium of Light.

Ramazani is expected to be a key figure in Leeds’ attack, but there are concerns about his potential burnout after starting three consecutive matches.

This concern was highlighted when Farke unexpectedly substituted him after he scored against Norwich, possibly to manage his workload.

Ramazani’s transition to English football has been gradual. In his first month at Leeds, he played just 30 minutes across all competitions.

However, he has recently been integrated into the starting lineup, delivering consistent performances over the last three games.

His pace and trickery make him a constant threat on the wing, but Farke must carefully balance the risk and reward of starting him for a third game in less than a week.

Ramazani’s body is still adjusting to the physical demands of the Championship, and overuse could hinder his long-term performance.

Leeds have other options in attack, including Joel Piroe, whose contributions off the bench have been generally positive.

Despite Ramazani’s crucial equalizer against Norwich, Piroe’s presence could provide an alternative in Friday’s match, especially given the taxing schedule.

Farke may need to consider rotating his squad to preserve Ramazani’s sharpness for the remainder of the season.

Ultimately, while it might be difficult to drop Ramazani given his recent form, a more cautious approach could benefit both the player and the team in the long run.

Still, if the 23-year-old Belgian can start on Friday and continue his fine form ahead of the international break, it would be a significant boost for Leeds.