Daniel Farke fears West Ham have a significant advantage over Leeds in the FA Cup quarter-finals

But there is a potential problem. A trip.

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Leeds’ away record is the tenth worst in England’s top four clubs in 2025/26. Home advantage is almost doubled, then, to West Ham United.

Daniel Farke is worried as West Ham United host Leeds in the FA Cup quarter-finals

Farke also wished his players would not have to travel to London immediately after the international break.

Key trio Darlow, Ampadu and James all featured in Wales’ 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland on Tuesday. On the left, Gabriel Gudmundsson played the full 90 minutes, as Sweden beat Poland 3-2 in a grueling World Cup match that evening.

“It’s always tricky,” said Farke, who also hopes Jaka Bijol will be fit after scoring for Slovenia in their 3-2 win over North Macedonia. “For the players who were involved in the games – for example, Tuesday – it was difficult because they had to come back on Wednesday.

“There is no possibility of one or two days off. I would like to give them more time to rest, but, due to the fact that we have to play an important game on Sunday, we cannot let them go for two or three days now.

“The last time they had a little rest was in November.” During Christmas and New Year, they had to keep going, and this required a lot of energy, both physically and mentally.

“Other clubs allow themselves a few days off, but we’re a newly promoted club. We’re in the middle of a relegation battle and we’re still in the FA Cup, so we can’t take too many days off.”

Nuno Espirito Santo hopes to have Crysencio Summerville available

Tomas Soucek went head to head with Mads Hermansen on Tuesday; The Czech Republic broke Denmark’s hearts in a tense match in Prague. Mateus Fernandes started for Portugal, Jarrod Bowen starred for England, and El Hadji Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka made long trips back from Senegal and Mexico respectively.

However, a home FA Cup quarter-final tie means the Hammers – unlike Leeds – have a long time to prepare.

“Of course, we want to take this opportunity [to reach Wembley] with both hands. [But West Ham] you don’t have to travel,” Farke adds. “Traveling on the first match day after the international break is even more difficult because of the tight schedule.

But at least the game is on Sunday and not Saturday! That helps a little.

Hammer News he is told that Crysencio Summerville remains the same even before the visit of his former employers. Konstantinos Mavropanos suffered a head injury while on duty in Greece, so fans will listen to Nuno when asked if he is still fit for the star team on Friday.

Nuno will also be hoping Soucek didn’t hit Pilsner too hard after the Czech Republic ended its 20-year World Cup exile. Alphonse Areola is expected to start in place of Hermansen, while Kyle Walker-Peters, Ollie Scarles and Mohamadou Kante are waiting in the wings if Wan-Bissaka, Diouf and Fernandes need a breather.