Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa at Villa Park (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
- Noah Okafor has suffered a hamstring injury in the FA Cup game at Birmingham City and will be out for between two and four weeks. Farke said Okafor will definitely miss the next two games.
- In more positive news, Anton Stach, Pascal Struijk and Dan James are back in training and available.
- On injury upheaval this season, Farke said: "You have to deal with injuries. Each and every club has it. We are in the top two for physical output in the league - we always have to invest more than the opponent - so yes, sometimes there's a knock or stretch of the muscle and we have to deal with it. We are in a really good position, with only Okafor out. At this stage of February, overall it is not too bad."
- Reflecting on spells of having several players out, Farke said: "Sometimes also it is easier to please everyone as everyone feels needed, starting games and proving worth. So it's also sometimes good for togetherness."
- Farke said the fact Facundo Buonanotte has not immediately held down a place in the team is "a good thing" as it shows the players he already had in place are of sufficient quality.
- On Buonanotte's slow start since joining on loan, Farke offered: "It's always important you are not carried away by expectations from a signing. Sometimes you bring a new player in and excitement and expectation is so high. This is the message I gave him from when he arrived. We haven't signed him to improve our 11 straight away. We signed him to improve the depth in our squad. We let Jack Harrison and Harry Gray go out on loan. We spoke openly with Facundo about it. We want to make sure we hold the pressure high on our other options."
- Farke added the Buonanotte deal is not a big risk for the club or the player and stressed he was "expecting" the Brighton player to start slowly given he has not played a lot of regular football.
- On the club's captaincy, Farke spoke about James Justin covering for absent names, stating: "JJ is captain pedigree - his whole personality. When he was not playing, he was always professional, supportive and thinking about the team. He embodies our mantra in a perfect way."
- Farke warned against reading into Aston Villa's FA Cup defeat by Newcastle given they played for a long spell with 10 men, stating: "If you have to go there, you need a top, top performance."
- On Leeds' position in the fight for survival: "We are on a good path. But the fact is I am a realistic person. In former years, 30 points would have been enough. I don't expect that this season. There is no reason to be carried away. We have to win many more points - and for that we have to stay with the foot on the gas."
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