Leeds Utd v Sheffield Wednesday
Sunday 18th January 12:00pm | Elland Road
Leeds United will be desperate to rediscover their winning touch when Sheffield Wednesday visit Elland Road this Sunday lunchtime. After a blistering run of form prior to Christmas, consecutive league draws against Blackburn and Hull have slightly dampened the mood among the Elland Road faithful.
The Whites' comfortable lead at the top of the Championship has dwindled to a slender single point, injecting extra pressure into this Yorkshire derby. Leeds could potentially find themselves outside the automatic promotion places for the first time in over a month if Burnley beat Sunderland on Friday evening, and likewise, Sheffield United pick up maximum points against Norwich City.
The recent form guide suggests a tight contest. Over the past six games, Leeds sit just above their rivals in third, with 12 points, while the Wendies are a close fourth, trailing by a single point. However, despite similar figures, defensive frailties continue to plague Danny Röhl's side. They've conceded 40 goals so far this season, putting them among the Championship's leakiest defences.
Leeds will be boosted by the return of Ilia Gruev and Junior Firpo, both of whom are back in training and edging closer to full fitness. Their availability will provide valuable depth, especially with Pascal Struijk now sidelined. The Dutch defender has suffered a hamstring issue and will be out for at least three weeks, though Farke admitted there is a small chance the injury could be more severe if the tendon is involved, which could extend his absence to three months. The news came as an unwelcome surprise after Struijk had trained earlier in the week, only for a scan to reveal the extent of the problem. Meanwhile, Patrick Bamford remains on the treatment table with a hamstring injury and is expected to be out for another three weeks.
Farke acknowledged Struijk’s importance to the team, noting that Leeds tend to score more goals when he is on the pitch. While the January transfer window remains a difficult market to operate in, he suggested the club would remain vigilant in case they needed to react to any major injury concerns. The absence of Struijk, combined with Charlie Crew’s loan move to Doncaster and Joe Gelhardt’s temporary exit in search of regular game time, has slightly altered the squad dynamics. However, Farke remains satisfied with his current group and is pleased to have Max Wöber back in training, though his workload must be carefully managed.
Turning attention to Sheffield Wednesday, Farke praised their recent improvement, warning that they are a side playing with intensity and togetherness. He stressed that Leeds must be at their best to secure three points against a team capable of causing problems. While he refused to comment on the situation regarding Wednesday’s ownership, he confirmed ongoing discussions with Leeds’ hierarchy about transfers, emphasizing that he and the club’s decision-makers are aligned on their long-term ambitions. As the Whites continue their push for promotion, Farke made it clear that while no players have requested to leave, the club will remain alert to any opportunities that may arise before the window closes.
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injuries are becoming a regular occurrence for the big sexy pirate.
