Leeds United will look to reignite their Championship promotion challenge when they host Derby County in a Saturday lunchtime clash, though both teams are dealing with multiple injury concerns ahead of the match.
Leeds slipped out of the automatic promotion spots following a 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers last weekend. They will now aim to bounce back at home, while Derby are also seeking to recover from a tough 2-1 loss to Sheffield Wednesday, with Jamal Lowe’s dramatic 94th-minute winner leaving them empty-handed. Both sides are missing key players as they head into this crucial fixture.
Leeds United Injury Updates:
Junior Firpo (doubt)
Firpo is a doubt for the game after picking up a foot injury in training. He was unable to train on Thursday, and Farke confirmed that his availability will be decided closer to kick-off.
Sam Byram (out)
Byram is sidelined with a hamstring issue sustained in last week’s victory over Luton. Although the injury is not deemed serious, he will not be available for this weekend’s match.
Ilia Gruev (out)
Gruev is still recovering from knee surgery, and there is no set date for his return. He remains unavailable for selection.
Isaac Schmidt (back)
After undergoing hernia surgery during the international break, Schmidt has returned to training. He isn’t yet fit for a full 90 minutes but could be included in the matchday squad.
Ethan Ampadu (back)
Ampadu, who has been out with a knee ligament injury since late October, is back in full team training. Farke will assess his fitness in the coming days, and his involvement will depend on the availability of other players.
Derby County Injury Updates:
David Ozoh (out)
The 19-year-old midfielder, on loan from Crystal Palace, will miss the game after struggling with both a hamstring injury and a quad problem. Despite some improvement, he is not yet ready for action.
Ebou Adams (out)
Adams is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season during Derby’s loss to Sheffield Wednesday. He will serve a one-match ban and will not feature at Elland Road.
Ryan Nyambe (out)
Nyambe continues his lengthy recovery from a knee ligament injury sustained in October. The defender is expected to be sidelined for at least four to six months.
Jake Rooney (out/doubt)
Rooney, who has been recovering from a knee injury, has featured for Derby’s under-21s recently. However, his availability for Saturday’s match is still uncertain.
Both teams will be without several important players as they aim to recover from disappointing results last weekend. Despite the absences, both sides will be determined to secure crucial points in their push for promotion.
