Key Points

• Nico Elvedi Debut: Swiss defender Nico Elvedi makes his official Leeds United debut following his transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach, entering the defense as the only backline adjustment.
• Managerial Squad Rotation: Manager Daniel Farke makes six total changes to the starting line-up compared to the side that secured a Premier League victory four days prior.
• Return From Injury: Forward Noah Okafor makes his first competitive start in three months following a calf injury and an extended post-World Cup quarter-finals break.
• System Shift: Leeds United switch to a tactical back four, with Sean Longstaff and Ao Tanaka brought into the central midfield to replace Anton Stach and Jaka Bijol.
• Key Absentees: Willy Gnonto, Gabi Gudmundsson, and Ilia Gruev are completely ruled out of the cup fixture through injury and fitness recovery.

Nottinghamshire (The Leeds Times) August 25, 2026 –In a significant tactical adjustment, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has elected to make six changes to his starting eleven for the Carabao Cup second-round clash against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. The managerial decisions come just four days after the Whites registered a 1-0 win against the exact same opposition at the very same venue in their Premier League season opener.

As reported by Joe Urquhart of the Yorkshire Evening Post, Swiss international defender Nico Elvedi has been handed his official debut for the club. Elvedi takes his spot in the central defense as a direct replacement for Jayden Bogle, who drops down to the substitutes’ bench as part of the defensive shuffle.

The inclusion of Elvedi comes after the former Borussia Monchengladbach centre-back remained an unused substitute during Saturday’s league victory, despite having prepared to enter the pitch late in that fixture. As noted by Graham Smyth of the Yorkshire Evening Post, Farke confirmed during his pre-match press conference on Monday that the Swiss defender was in “excellent physical shape” and ready to be integrated into senior action.

CameraSport via Getty Images

Nico Elvedi Debut

Swiss defender makes first start as Farke rotates six players at City Ground

Action Images

6 Squad Changes

Farke reshuffles starting line-up four days after Premier League opener win

Noah Okafor

First start in 3 months post-injury

James Trafford

Retains starting position in goal

How Does the Leeds United Defense and Midfield Reshape for the Tie?

Five players who started the 1-0 Premier League victory at Nottingham Forest have retained their spots in the lineup. Summer acquisition James Trafford starts in goal for a second consecutive match, while club captain Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Tarik Muharemovic, and James Justin keep their positions across the defensive structure. With Elvedi stepping in for Bogle, the team appears aligned in a traditional back-four arrangement.

Further up the pitch, Farke has completely restructured the central midfield pairing to manage squad workload. As reported by Beren Cross of Leeds Live, midfielders Sean Longstaff and Ao Tanaka have been drafted into the starting lineup. The inclusion of Longstaff and Tanaka sees Anton Stach—who netted the dramatic late winning free-kick on Saturday—and Jaka Bijol move down to the substitutes’ bench.

In the wide attacking areas, Dan James receives a starting role alongside Noah Okafor. As detailed by Phil Hay of The Athletic, Okafor makes his first competitive start in three months following an extended period on the sidelines with a calf injury, coupled with a prolonged summer recovery break after representing Switzerland in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Who Has Moved to the Bench and Who Misses Out Completely?

To accommodate the rotation, several prominent figures from Saturday’s victory move to the substitutes’ bench. As highlighted by Lee Sobot of the Yorkshire Evening Post, wide midfielder Harry Wilson, attacking playmaker Brenden Aaronson, and striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin have all been named amongst the substitutes alongside first-round goalscorer Anton Stach and defenders Jaka Bijol and Jayden Bogle. Striker Lukas Nmecha leads the attack from the opening whistle in place of Calvert-Lewin.

Additionally, three senior squad members are absent from the matchday squad altogether due to ongoing fitness issues. As stated by Daniel Farke during his pre-match medical update, winger Willy Gnonto, defender Gabi Gudmundsson, and midfielder Ilia Gruev remain ruled out of selection as they continue their respective rehabilitation programmes.

The official matchday teamsheets confirm the respective lineups and substitutes for the knockout encounter:

Leeds United XI: Trafford, Justin, Muharemovic, Rodon, Elvedi, Ampadu, Tanaka, Longstaff, James, Okafor, Nmecha.

Substitutes: Perri, Cresswell, Lienou, Bogle, Bijol, Stach, Aaronson, Wilson, Calvert-Lewin.

Explore More Leeds United News

Sam Byram Completes Middlesbrough Transfer After Leaving Leeds United, West Yorkshire 2026

Leeds United Transfer Latest: Harder, Zetterer, Ramazani, Mudryk Updates (West Yorkshire, 2026)

What Is the Background to This Particular Development?

The cup tie marks the second meeting between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest in just ninety-six hours, following the Premier League opening weekend fixture on Saturday afternoon. Leeds claimed a 1-0 victory in that encounter thanks to an 88th-minute direct free-kick from new signing Anton Stach, securing three points on their return to top-flight action.

Manager Daniel Farke has historically utilized early rounds of the EFL Cup to manage player physical loads and give debut opportunities to recent transfers and fringe options.

In the previous season’s tournament, Leeds exited in the second round following a penalty shootout defeat against Sheffield Wednesday. With high-tempo league encounters against Brentford and Liverpool fast approaching on the schedule, the decision to rotate six starting positions balances competitive demands with squad health management early in the campaign.

What Is the Prediction for How This Development Affects the Audience?

The tactical changes and rotation decisions implemented by Daniel Farke will directly influence the matchday experience and expectations of the Leeds United fanbase and regional football followers:

• Evaluation of New Signings: Supporters will gain their first real look at Nico Elvedi in competitive action, allowing the fanbase to assess how the Swiss international defender integrates into Farke’s defensive line alongside established starters like Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu.
• Fitness Benchmarks for Key Attackers: Seeing Noah Okafor return to the starting line-up after a three-month absence provides supporters and tactical analysts with a baseline to judge his match fitness and sharpness ahead of a demanding Premier League calendar.
• Impact on Tactical Expectations: The tactical switch to a back four, combined with fresh midfield dynamics in Sean Longstaff and Ao Tanaka, offers fans insight into the squad depth available to Farke when navigating dense fixtures across multiple domestic competitions.