Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has confirmed a growing injury list ahead of his side's Premier League trip to face champions Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. The squad is dealing with several absences following the international break.
Winger Daniel James has been ruled out of the match entirely. The Welsh international returned from national team duty with a back injury and will not be available for selection.
Defender Joe Rodon remains sidelined with the hamstring injury he sustained last month. Farke provided an update, stating, "Joe Rodon is still out. He's making good progress, but it will take a bit more time."
New signing Jean-Matteo Bahoya and winger Harry Wilson are both considered doubts and face late fitness tests. Bahoya suffered an ankle strain while with the France Under-21 squad. "We have to wait right now to see how his body reacts, but it seems like there is a chance that he's available," Farke said of the forward. Wilson, meanwhile, has only just returned to team training after recovering from a muscle issue.
Farke's squad update
Farke gave a comprehensive overview of his squad's condition. He revealed that several players who were away, including Jaka Bijol, Niko Elvedi, and Ilia Gruev, were limited to recovery sessions on Thursday, leaving only Friday for full team training. "But it's the same for Arsenal and every club so I don't complain," Farke added.
On a positive note, striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has returned from England duty in good condition despite limited minutes. "It was good for him to have two more appearances," Farke insisted. "He came back in good spirits." The manager acknowledged the challenge for Calvert-Lewin, pointing out the difficulty of breaking into a national squad featuring world-class forwards like Harry Kane.
The challenge ahead
Leeds travel to North London unbeaten in their first five Premier League games this season, a run that has them sitting in the top half of the table. Their most recent match was a goalless draw with Crystal Palace. The fixture against Mikel Arteta's side represents their most difficult test so far, coming a year after a 5-0 defeat at the same venue.
The demanding schedule continues for Farke's team beyond this weekend. An analysis of their upcoming Premier League fixtures shows a challenging run, with their next five games including meetings with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as difficult away trips to Sunderland and Bournemouth.
In other football news, Crusaders FC are preparing for their own important fixture. The team, currently positioned third in the Premiership standings, are set to host league rivals Larne at Seaview on Saturday.
First reported at Yorkshire Post
