Daniel Farke, Manager of Leeds United, looks dejected following his teams lose of a penalty shoot out at the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United at Hillsborough on August 26, 2025 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)placeholder image
Daniel Farke, Manager of Leeds United, looks dejected following his teams lose of a penalty shoot out at the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United at Hillsborough on August 26, 2025 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Leeds United and Newcastle United injury news ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash at Elland Road.
Newcastle are sweating over the fitness of two midfielders of their own after Sandro Tonali and Joelinton were forced off during the 3-2 defeat to Liverpool on Monday night.
Tonali, despite attempting to play on, withdrew with a shoulder issue before Joelinton left the pitch visibly upset with a muscle problem.
Eddie Howe admitted immediately after the game that it didn’t look good for either player, but further assessment indicates that the pair are set to avoid a lengthy spell on the sidelines,
However, given the relatively quick turnaround, Tonali and Joelinton remain a doubt for the visit to Elland Road, which is likely to see a midfield three of Lewis Miley, Bruno Guimaraes and Jacob Ramsey deployed.
Leeds United without two first choice midfielders
And Leeds are in a similar boat, with both Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu ruled out. Tanaka missed the Whites’ Carabao Cup penalty shootout to defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night, while Ampadu was absent for the 5-0 loss at Arsenal last weekend.
“MCL injury,” said manager Daniel Farke said on Tanaka. “He will also be out for a few weeks. It’s difficult at the moment to say exactly when he can return, but also definitely not before the international break.
Read More
““It’s quite a similar injury to Ethan Ampadu’s injury and, of course, it’s tough to take that two of our key players in central midfield are out within a few days with the same injury after a tough tackle.
“That’s football. We have to get on with it and find some solutions.”
Sean Longstaff in line to start against Newcastle United
The pair’s injuries will likely mean Sean Longstaff makes his first Premier League start for Leeds against his former club in a midfield three alongside Ilia Gruev and Anton Stach.
Longstaff has brought an end to his 19-year association with Newcastle after joining Leeds for £15m last month. The 27-year-old made 214 senior appearances for his boyhood but fell down the pecking order last season.
“I think there is something to be said for a team that wants you and a club that really wants you,” Longstaff said on his move to Leeds. I think from the first time I spoke to Leeds, I sort of got a feeling that they really wanted me.
“It just fills you full of confidence and it just makes you want to repay those people. It is a massive, massive football club similar to Newcastle in a lot of ways.
“It was going to take a lot for us to leave Newcastle to be honest and I wasn’t just going to leave to go anywhere so it had to be the right place for me and my family and I think this is a perfect place.
“Every time I came to play at Leeds the atmosphere was amazing it was always bouncing and a really tough place to play and just looking forward to having that on my side rather than having to play against.”
Continue Reading