Marsch starts with an injury update…
A few things. So Adam, Archie are still out but Archie has been active on the pitch, Adam is feeling better. Cree Summerville is on the pitch but not yet training with the team but he should be in team training by next week and be available for next weekend. So that's a bonus. Stuart Dallas, still injured.
Coops is a little bit questionable still and Tyler Adams is a little bit questionable for this weekend. So we'll see, it’ll be more of a matchday decision with them. The last one is Cody Drameh, I think there'll be an announcement about his loan later today.
On that last one, Luton Town we think?
Yes.
Read more: Luke Ayling has won his biggest Leeds United battle to force re-think of summer plan
Is it worth risking, even if there is a slight doubt, the likes of Cooper and Adams this weekend?
I just want to see where they're at. I want to give them the chance because I don't think their injuries so bad that they still have a possibility and we want to go to Accrington and make sure that we go for the victory. We’ve got the chance to push in this in this tournament and we really want to take it totally seriously and make sure in every way that we put our best foot forward we'll see. We'll see how this goes.
Do you feel the occasion, the situation, is right to give Georginio Rutter a debut as well?
Yeah, I think first Georgi's looked really good and training. I think there's a high probability that we start with him and I think he's impressed in training. He's an intelligent guy and like I said before, by being in Germany he understands a lot of the principles that we use. So yeah, I'm excited to get him going for sure.
You talked about not being beaten as a head coach by a lower league side. How important is that to you and is that something the FA Cup has made you aware of?
We always in the US would talk about the FA Cup, even when we were like seven. You'd be out on the pitch with your buddies, you'd be like ‘it's the FA Cup final’.
So we're very aware of what the tournament means, what it holds in terms of the David versus Goliath and how that can be a very inspiring narrative for us. One of the reasons why I feel like we've always managed, with the teams that I've been with, to handle Cup opponents like this is because I want the team to always play with full intensity and never to take anything for granted and against lower division teams.
I think that maybe the most important thing is that when you step on the pitch that you know that this is going to be a very difficult match and that we play to our highest level, that we go after the game physically and that we manage the match. So that's that will certainly be our emphasis come Saturday.
Jack Harrison, how important is he because there’s a lot of talk about his future?
Yeah, I've heard. I haven't read anything but I've heard from different people, that there's things about Jack out there. But I will say that his commitment to being here has been amazing. He's in incredible form. I think he's played really well in every match since he's got back from his injury since we've gotten back from the winter and he's an important guy for us. So I haven't even discussed it with Jack because for me, it's really clear. He's an important player for us and he's on track and so he'll be ready for Saturday as well.
Cody Drameh has at times looked like his future might lie elsewhere but this is just a straight loan. Are you pleased about that and can you see a future for him here?
Yes, I see. no doubt, a future here for him. He and I have I think formed a pretty strong relationship over the last eight months. If I go back to the first time I met him and he was very dissatisfied about coming back and kind of expressed that he didn't think that this was going to be right for him.
But over time, just getting to know each other and him being a part of what we've been building here, I think he sees his potential here and the potential of what we're doing as a club. I think he has a lot more excitement about the possibility of what the long term project could be like.
I told him when he left that it was unfortunate that we didn't have, with both Luke and Rasmus right now, that we just didn't have more opportunities for him to develop right here, right now with us. In many ways, I think he's ready for those challenges, but we were also very clear with each other that we thought it was important that he go to a club that is pushing for something, that challenges him in a lot of ways.
I think as a person he's developed a lot in the last eight months, and I think he's ready to put that to the test at a higher level than even being in Cardiff last year. By the way, a lot of clubs were interested and so I was just trying to find the right challenge for him so that when we see each other again in June, and we'll be in contact, I made sure to tell them we'll be in contact over the next month, but that when we see each other again in June, or end of May that he's ready for more here. And then he's improved and grown and is ready for big challenges here with us.
Leeds have lost to lower league opposition in the FA Cup quite a lot in recent times. How aware are you of that history, and how keen on you to avoid that, too?
I'd heard going into the FA Cup this year that we had had a home match in quite some time, that we had got out of the fourth round in quite some time, so I was aware of these things. The exact details of what year, what match, what scoreline, all those things, not exactly clear, but I told you that Angus gave me this subtle call that maybe we should play a good line-up in the first match against Cardiff. But internally we've talked that we want to be we want to push in this tournament. We want to give ourselves a chance and our fans a chance to have a cup run. So everybody on the inside for sure is clear on how to do that.
How big a blow to momentum would it be to lose?
We can't allow that to happen. We have to be only focused on making sure we have a good start and, as always, put our best foot forward to make sure that we get the win.
READ NEXT:
Leeds United have a Weston McKennie transfer advantage that could aid Jesse Marsch's side
Four players on notice as Victor Orta and Leeds United approach key transfer calls
How Leeds United's midfield line-up could evolve if Weston McKennie signs
Angus Kinnear comment offers hint on future of Leeds United's most promising youngsters
Leeds United youngsters facing special treatment after senior success amid targeting claim
