Fresh from a dramatic weekend victory, Daniel Farke’s side targets cup progression as squad rotation beckons and Swiss international Nico Elvedi prepares for his long-awaited competitive debut.
Leeds United make a swift return to the City Ground on Tuesday evening as they face Nottingham Forest in the second round of the EFL Cup, just three days after securing a dramatic Premier League victory at the very same venue.
Daniel Farke’s side made the perfect start to life back in the Premier League on Saturday, with Anton Stach’s stunning late free-kick settling a closely fought contest and earning the Whites all three points.
With the deadlock still intact as the match entered its final stages, Stach won a free-kick on the edge of the Forest penalty area before stepping up to produce a moment of real quality.
The midfielder whipped a fantastic effort beyond the despairing dive of Matz Sels and into the far corner, sending the travelling Leeds supporters into raptures.
From there, the Whites had to withstand late pressure, but the defence stood firm to secure a clean sheet and an important opening-day victory.
Saturday’s contest also saw competitive debuts for two of Leeds’ summer arrivals, with club-record signing James Trafford starting in goal and Tarik Muharemović impressing at the heart of the defence.
However, Tuesday’s cup tie is expected to look considerably different, with the short turnaround likely to encourage Farke to rotate his squad.
One player who could be given the opportunity to make his Leeds debut is Nico Elvedi.
The experienced Switzerland international completed his move from Borussia Mönchengladbach earlier this summer, having spent 11 years with the German club and making more than 300 Bundesliga appearances.
The EFL Cup could therefore provide the perfect opportunity for Elvedi to get his first taste of competitive football in a Leeds shirt, while several other squad players will also be hoping to make their case for more regular involvement.
Harry Wilson, meanwhile, made his first start for the club against Forest on Saturday and could feature again, although Farke will be conscious of managing his workload with a demanding Premier League schedule ahead.
Leeds have plenty of history in the EFL Cup, having lifted the trophy in 1968.
The Whites defeated Arsenal 1-0 in the final at Wembley, with Terry Cooper scoring the only goal in front of almost 100,000 supporters.
Forest will be determined to respond after their disappointing defeat on Saturday, although their own team selection could also be affected by the quick turnaround.
Last season, Forest finished 16th in the Premier League, one place below Leeds, who ended their campaign in 14th.
Both sides also had their leading goalscorers finish on 15 goals, with Morgan Gibbs-White leading Forest’s scoring charts and Dominic Calvert-Lewin doing the same for Leeds.
The cup tie could provide a very different contest to Saturday’s league meeting, particularly if both managers make significant changes.
For Leeds, it represents an opportunity to maintain momentum while allowing players on the fringes of the starting XI to impress.
There will be no extra time if the scores are level after 90 minutes, with the tie going straight to penalties.
Kick-off at the City Ground is scheduled for 8pm, with Andrew Kitchen taking charge. Mark Stevens and Alex James will operate as assistant referees, while Stephen Parkinson has been appointed fourth official.
After a memorable opening-day victory, Leeds will be hoping to make it two wins from two visits to Nottingham in the space of just four days and book their place in the third round of the EFL Cup.
