The Canaries’ 2-0 win at Leicester City last weekend was their seventh victory in nine Championship games, moving them 11 points clear of the drop zone with 11 games left to play. It has given them breathing space and the freedom to travel to Yorkshire, shackles off, and take the game to Leeds as they bid to reach a first FA Cup quarter-final since 2020.
The hosts could not be in a more different position. Back-to-back home defeats and midweek Premier League results going against them leave Leeds sitting perilously just three points above the relegation zone. Daniel Farke will know all eyes are on his side to deliver and keep their cup run alive, having already seen them overcome Championship opponents Derby County and Birmingham City.
Leeds haven’t had the smoothest route to round five, needing a second-half comeback at Pride Park in round three and avoiding a scare with a penalty shootout win at St Andrew’s last round. Norwich, meanwhile, have seen off Walsall and West Brom at Carrow Road in convincing fashion.
This tie, however, carries a different feel to earlier rounds, with Leeds holding home advantage and the Canaries having lost each of their last four visits to Elland Road. But Clement has no connection to those past struggles and firmly believes his side can beat ‘every team in the world’, even with a depleted squad.
City’s Belgian head coach does not have huge scope for rotation, having lost Mohamed Toure and Oscar Schwartau to injury since their fourth-round win against the Baggies. The return of Amankwah Forson is timely, though, with the Ghanaian expected to feature in the matchday squad for the first time since December.
Daniel Grimshaw has started both FA Cup ties so far this season (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)
Goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw has started both of City’s FA Cup ties so far and feels likely to retain his place between the sticks. Jack Stacey has started only once in the Championship since the end of November but featured at right-back in both previous rounds and would give City the option to rest either Ben Chrisene or Kellen Fisher.
Like Stacey, Harry Darling has found consistent minutes hard to come by in 2026, with Jose Cordoba preferred to the former Swansea man. Darling will hope for another chance to impress on Sunday and did score on his last trip to Elland Road while playing for the Swans last season.
Jacob Wright is another option Clement has favoured in the FA Cup in an area of the pitch where options are limited, with Pelle Mattsson working his way back to fitness and Mirko Topic ruled out for the season with an ACL injury. However, the experience of Sam Field and Kenny McLean might be a more appealing combination for Clement given the nature of the environment and difficulty of the task facing his side.
The attacking midfield position is one area where Norwich City have two options in strong form, both of whom have taken their chance in this competition. Paris Maghoma has quickly become a firm fan favourite with his early performances in yellow and green, registering two goals in 244 minutes.
Anis Ben Slimane has the most assists of any player in this season’s FA Cup from the first round onwards with four, two in each round, and has carried that form into the Championship with five goals and one assist.
The striker position is an easier decision with Mathias Kvistgaarden the only fit natural forward available, but his minutes need to be managed with five games in 13 days, especially given Clement ruled out fielding options from the academy or entering the free agent market.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke has utilised his squad in cup competitions this season but does have a different luxury when it comes to rotation; he gave minutes to summer signings Noah Okafor and Sean Longstaff in the last round, who cost a combined £30m.
Speaking after the fourth-round win at Birmingham last month, Farke said, “Step by step, it’s not perhaps realistic to dream of a win at Wembley, but I like a proper cup run. A cup run always brings excitement for the supporters and players. Normally we play one game per week and don’t rotate much, but with cup games we can give more players minutes.”
While Farke won’t be on the touchline for his seventh reunion with the Canaries since his exit in November 2021 after accepting the FA charge against him for misconduct, he will be keen to maintain his unbeaten record against his former club and progress to the next round.
The stage is set for a classic FA Cup showdown in West Yorkshire, with Norwich backed by their 3,000 travelling supporters, who will make the journey with hope that the cup dream can go on.