Farke: In-form Okafor must stay ´humble and hungry´

Daniel Farke urged Noah Okafor to stay “humble and hungry” amid the forward’s excellent run of form for Leeds United.

Okafor has scored five goals in his last five appearances for the Whites, including netting a brace in last week’s 2-1 win at Manchester United.

The former AC Milan attacker has scored seven Premier League goals in total, providing one assist, with his recent run helping Leeds propel themselves eight points clear of the relegation zone.

A trip to in-form Bournemouth comes next for Leeds, and Farke wants to see Okafor keep up his levels.

“My attitude is that fitness level is so important. We have worked a lot on it. The mindset is also important for the attackers,” Farke said.

“They should not just be thinking about goals and assists. They need to think about how they can benefit the team, playing a role in pressing and the workload off the ball, helping the wing-backs to close the wings.

“If you concentrate on these topics and have a good game, the end product will come automatically. If you think about goals, goals and goals, you will never score.

“We also speak about things that we want to see tactically, but all the credit goes to him. He’s in a fantastic shape and he needs to make sure he stays on it, stays humble and stays hungry and ride the wave as far as possible.”

The gap between 15th-place Leeds and 18th-place Tottenham could have been cut down to six points had Spurs held on against Brighton.

However, former Brighton striker Georginio Rutter scored a last-gasp equaliser for the Seagulls.

“Yes, there were many jokes. I worked a whole year with him and waited a whole year for such a finish from him,” Farke quipped.

“We are all happy for Georgi because he’s an unbelievable player. Sometimes you have to accept that a player develops a bit quicker than we were able to do couple of years ago.

“You could say he has helped our position in the relegation a little bit but I don’t pay too much attention to the other games. I don’t celebrate goals of other teams. I just celebrate Leeds goals, but I am always happy if Georgi scores a goal if it’s not a goal against Leeds.”

: “They’re having an outstanding season and pushing for Europe. 13 games unbeaten is no coincidence, it will be a very tough trip but we’ve shown we can get results.” pic.twitter.com/UI5wmSSdEg

— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 21, 2026

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bournemouth – Junior Kroupi

Kroupi netted the equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Elland Road earlier this season and could be the first teenager to score home and away against Leeds in a Premier League season – the current youngest to do so is Peter Ndlovu in 1992-93 for Coventry (20 years, 72 days).

Leeds United – Noah Okafor

Both of Leeds United’s away Premier League wins this season have been in games when Okafor has scored (3-1 vs Wolves, 2-1 vs Man Utd), and he has netted in his last two away appearances, also scoring at Chelsea in February.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has already scored in three in a row away this season, with 2002-03 the last time two different players did so for Leeds (Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka).

MATCH PREDICTION: BOURNEMOUTH WIN

Farke has never lost a Premier League game against Bournemouth in three previous meetings (W1 D2) – they are one of only two teams he’s faced but not lost against, along with Brentford (W1 D2).

In all competitions, Leeds are unbeaten in eight away games (W2 D6), with their last two away games seeing them reach their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987. Leeds last had a longer away unbeaten run between October 1978 and January 1979 (11).

Bournemouth have drawn each of their last four Premier League home games; only in September 1962 (five) and April 1967 (six) have they ever drawn more league matches in a row at home.

However, the Cherries are unbeaten since the start of January and Andoni Iraola’s team come into this one as favourites.

That is despite Leeds having lost just two of their 15 league games against Bournemouth (W10 D3), though one of those was their only previous away match against them in the Premier League (1-4 in April 2023).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Bournemouth – 55%

Draw – 23.2%

Leeds United – 21.8%