Daniel Farke Focuses on Injury Recovery and Team Performance

Daniel Farke is not in the mood for drama. Not about his contract, not about his team’s form, and certainly not about the international break.

What he does welcome is a bit of good news on the injury front.

Gruev back in the frame, Wilson sidelined

Ilian Gruev has finally stepped back onto a pitch in anger after a knee injury that has kept him out since May. Farke revealed the midfielder came through close to a full game with the under-21s, a crucial step in his recovery.

“After this long-term injury it was important to get his first minutes in the under-21 game. He played nearly 90 minutes and it was good for his confidence and his body. He is available for the weekend,” Farke said.

The boost is tempered by a fresh setback for Harry Wilson. The winger has picked up a quad injury and is expected to miss not only club action but also Wales’ fixtures over the international break. Joe Rodon remains unavailable as well, leaving Farke without two important pieces of his squad.

Contract talk shut down

Off the pitch, Farke batted away another round of questions over his future. Managing director Robbie Evans recently told BBC Sport that club and manager are “on the same page”, but Farke has no interest in turning it into a running saga.

“No news from my side,” he said. “I spoke at the end of last season long, detailed, open and honest about the situation. I don't want to make a weekly soap opera of it. No-one wants a manager who is always talking about his future and his contract.”

The message is clear: judge him by the team, not the negotiations.

Calvert-Lewin’s recall “fully deserved”

One player Farke was happy to talk about is Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose sharp start to the season has earned him a recall to the England squad.

“Fully deserved. A perfect start to the new season. He's scored goals and has delivered performances,” Farke said. “He's played with a good confidence and is in a good rhythm. He definitely deserves this call-up. He's definitely one of the best strikers in this league.”

It’s a ringing endorsement, and one that underlines how highly the forward is rated by opposition managers as well as his own.

Form no longer a “coincidence”

Farke’s own team have carried strong form over from last season, and he made it clear he sees this as something more permanent than a purple patch.

“It's not a coincidence any more. It's not just a good period, it's quality that we are delivering. Everyone can be proud of this and take lots of confidence,” he said.

Talk of a European push is starting to swirl around, but Farke is having none of it. Survival remains his hard line.

“The first step is always to win 40 points and to make sure we do it as fast as possible,” he insisted. “If we do it and there are still games left, we will definitely take it – but my only aim and only focus is to make sure we win the 40 points and play another Premier League season.”

Ambition can wait. The table, he knows, can turn quickly.

Respect for Crystal Palace and a different kind of break

Next up are Crystal Palace, and Farke’s respect for the Eagles was obvious.

“We face a really strong side. When I speak about Crystal Palace, I can't speak with more respect about them,” he said. “They have done exceptionally well, especially in the last seasons winning titles. They have done good business in the summer and I think they are stronger this season than last season.”

The challenge is clear, but so is the plan for the looming international pause. There will be no holiday for those who stay behind.

“We allow ourselves a chance to recover a bit more than is possible in normal time. Then, the work continues,” Farke explained. “Just because we don't have a game for a while doesn't mean we don't train for a while. There are still players here who need my attention. Sometimes there is more time for the detail and for younger players.”

Recovery, detail, development. While others scatter for international duty, Farke will use the quiet weeks to sharpen what he already has – and to make sure that, by the time those 40 points are in sight, nobody is talking about soap operas anymore.