Potential Debut

Leeds manager Daniel Farke confirmed that Nico Elvedi, the new signing from Borussia Mönchengladbach, could make his first appearance for the club in the Carabao Cup second-round match against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night. The 27-year-old centre-back is available, eligible to play and has already been involved in most of the pre-season fixtures for the club.

Elvedi’s Background and Pre-Season Involvement

Elvedi joined Leeds after spending 11 years with Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he established himself as a regular in the German side’s defence. He has played “more or less near all the pre-season games for Gladbach,” according to Farke, indicating that he has been in good rhythm and has not been sidelined by injury during the preparation period.

Fitness and Form

Farke praised Elvedi’s physical condition, noting that he “has been in very good shape, was quite impressive for first days in training.” The manager added that the defender’s performance in training sessions has earned him a chance to get some minutes on the pitch, potentially making his debut in the upcoming cup tie.

Team Rotation and Injury Update

Farke also addressed the possibility of squad rotation. “We take some late decisions like always when you have such a quick turnaround but definitely a possibility, yes,” he said. He expects that the cup competition will see a few more changes in the starting line-ups than a normal league game, but he does not anticipate a completely different side.

Regarding player fitness, Farke reported no new injury concerns for Leeds’ second game of the season. He explained that the club’s doctors, physiotherapists, and sports science staff conduct extensive tests and recovery assessments, and none of the players involved in the previous match were reported as unavailable for the upcoming fixture. “So for that, I expect more or less to have the same players available like it was also for the last game,” he added.

Conclusion

While the manager remains open to giving Elvedi a debut, he also highlighted that the decision will depend on the players’ readiness and the need to balance the squad for the cup match. The team will likely feature many of the same players who started the previous game, with any changes driven by tactical considerations rather than injury concerns.