
Leeds United v Norwich City
Wednesday 22nd January 7:45pm | Elland Road
Leeds United will welcome Norwich City to Elland Road on Wednesday evening, looking to continue their push for automatic promotion. Fresh from a commanding 3-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday, Daniel Farke’s men will be eager to capitalise on their strong home form against a depleted Canaries side. However, injuries could force Farke into some last-minute adjustments, with several key players carrying knocks ahead of the fixture.
One of the main concerns for Leeds is the fitness of Brenden Aaronson. The USA international suffered a knee knock late in the win over Sheffield Wednesday and was replaced by Josuha Guilavogui. While Farke remains cautiously optimistic about his availability, a late decision will be made regarding his involvement. If Aaronson is unavailable, either Largie Ramazani or Willy Gnonto could step in, with both players eager for more game time. Ramazani, in particular, will be hoping to replicate his impact from the reverse fixture in October when he netted the equaliser the 1-1 draw at Carrow Road.
Defensive concerns also loom over Leeds, with Pascal Struijk’s hamstring injury flaring up again. The Dutch defender underwent scans over the weekend, though the club has yet to release the results. If he is sidelined, Leeds may have to rely on Liam Cooper or Ethan Ampadu to partner Joe Rodon at the back. Patrick Bamford is another confirmed absentee, with the experienced striker ruled out for three weeks due to a hamstring problem. However, there is some positive news on the injury front, with Ilia Gruev, Junior Firpo, and Max Wöber all making the bench at the weekend. Gruev even managed a 20-minute cameo, hinting that he could play a bigger role on Wednesday.
Norwich City arrive at Elland Road in the midst of an injury and suspension crisis, which has severely impacted their squad depth. Manager Johannes Thorup had to name six academy players on the bench against Sheffield United, highlighting the extent of their issues. Their midfield is particularly depleted, with Marcelino Núñez, Liam Gibbs, Jacob Sørensen, Anis Ben Slimane, Gabriel Forsyth, and Tony Springett all unavailable. To compound matters, top scorer Borja Sainz is serving a six-match suspension after a controversial spitting incident against Sunderland’s Chris Mepham. Norwich’s attacking options are further limited by the ineligibility of new signing Matej Jurásek due to post-Brexit regulations, while defender Jose Córdoba has also been ruled out with a knee injury.

Despite their struggles, Farke is taking nothing for granted. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he emphasised the quality Norwich still possess and their potential to cause an upset at Elland Road. Farke pointed to Josh Sargent’s return as a key factor, noting that the American striker is one of the best in the division when fit. Leeds will need to be particularly wary of Norwich’s high-pressing style, as Thorup’s side are known for their intensity and attacking approach. The Whites will need to be clinical in front of goal and resolute in defence to avoid any slip-ups.
With only one full training session to prepare for the game, Farke admitted that squad rotation is likely. Leeds have a packed fixture schedule, and with Aaronson and Solomon both doubtful, adjustments may be necessary. Firpo and Gruev’s return to training is a positive sign, and Farke suggested that their involvement will increase with each passing session. The competition for places remains fierce, particularly in attacking positions, where Gnonto is pushing for a start despite his recent struggles with end product. Farke remains confident that the young Italian will rediscover his scoring touch sooner rather than later.
As the Championship season enters its decisive phase, every point matters. Leeds are well-placed in the promotion race but must maintain their momentum. Norwich, despite their injury woes, are still eyeing a late push for the play-offs and will be highly motivated. Expect a high-intensity contest, with Leeds aiming to assert their dominance early. If they can take their chances and defend resolutely, another crucial three points should be within reach.
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