Leeds suffer Daniel James injury scare as three summer signings eye Chelsea debuts

Leeds United could be without Daniel James for their Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea, although Daniel Farke has delivered an encouraging update on the winger’s fitness.

James was due to be involved in Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Brighton but complained of hamstring and back discomfort during the warm-up. He remained on the bench throughout the match as an unused substitute.

The Wales international has since undergone scans, with Farke confirming there is no indication of a fresh injury. However, James remains a doubt for the trip to Stamford Bridge and must prove his fitness in training.

Farke revealed that the initial medical assessment had produced positive news.

“The scan results were good, so it seems like no new injury,” the Leeds manager said.

“If he comes through two more sessions, hopefully he’s available. A little question mark, but I’m cautiously optimistic.”

With the Premier League remaining Leeds’ priority, Farke is unlikely to take unnecessary risks with James during the quick turnaround.

The cup tie could instead provide opportunities for several of the club’s summer arrivals.

Michael Zetterer, Jean-Matteo Bahoya and Melvin Bard are all waiting to make their competitive Leeds debuts after being unused substitutes against Brighton.

Farke refused to confirm whether the trio will start against Chelsea but acknowledged that changes are likely.

“We want to be difficult to predict and flexible and there’s a chance right now to rotate a bit in this relatively quick turnaround,” he explained.

“We have to rotate a bit more and integrate a few new players, but we want to be at our best and go through.”

The possibility of several changes could also make Leeds more difficult for Xabi Alonso to prepare for.

Despite acknowledging that Premier League survival and consolidation remain the main objectives, Farke has made clear Leeds will not treat the competition lightly.

“We’ll try to win it. It’s the quickest way into Europe and some glory,” he said.

“We’re not the favourites to win the Carabao Cup, of course we know this, but we’ll travel to London in order to go through to the next round.”

That leaves Farke balancing two priorities at Stamford Bridge: protecting important players during a busy schedule while giving his rotated side a genuine chance of eliminating Chelsea.

James will be assessed through Leeds’ final training sessions before a decision is made on his availability. Farke is expected to rotate his team against Chelsea, potentially handing competitive debuts to Zetterer, Bahoya and Bard as Leeds target a place in the next round of the Carabao Cup.