Leeds United face another quick return to action with Tuesday night’s Premier League clash at historic bitter rivals Chelsea - for which blows have left six men out and now four others as doubts.
The huge size of Chelsea’s squad is well documented, giving boss Liam Rosenior plenty of options despite having several players missing for Saturday afternoon’s clash at rock-bottom Wolves where Cole Palmer netted a first-half hat-trick in a 3-1 victory.
Star man Palmer himself has been managing an injury but came through 61 minutes of a fourth-straight league win for the fifth-placed Blues who were dealt a new possible injury blow in the success.
Leeds, meanwhile, welcomed back three players from injuries for Friday night’s hosting of Nottingham Forest in which Daniel Farke’s Whites also recorded a 3-1 success which proved essential in keeping the team six points clear of the dropzone, despite battling against injuries to key men.
Four nights later, the Whites and Blues will lock horns in a huge game at both ends of the table in a 7.30pm kick-off at Stamford Bridge for which six men are now out of the match for which four more are doubts although one of those doubts is expected back.
Here, we run through the early injury news from both camps which also includes seven men now back.
Unfortunately - from a Leeds point of view that is. Class act Palmer has been managing an injury this season but Rosenior declared the midfielder as fit to start against Wolves which he did and within 38 minutes he had a hat-trick. Palmer came through 61 minutes before coming off, seemingly without any issues and it appears all systems go to now face the Whites.
1. BACK: Cole Palmer
Unfortunately - from a Leeds point of view that is. Class act Palmer has been managing an injury this season but Rosenior declared the midfielder as fit to start against Wolves which he did and within 38 minutes he had a hat-trick. Palmer came through 61 minutes before coming off, seemingly without any issues and it appears all systems go to now face the Whites. | Mike Egerton/PA Wire
A goalscorer in December's 3-1 defeat at Elland Road, above, Chelsea's Portuguese international attacker Neto was a doubt for Saturday's clash at Wolves having suffered a small knock in last weekend's 3-2 win at home to West Ham but Neto started at Molineux and played the full match.
2. BACK: Pedro Neto
A goalscorer in December's 3-1 defeat at Elland Road, above, Chelsea's Portuguese international attacker Neto was a doubt for Saturday's clash at Wolves having suffered a small knock in last weekend's 3-2 win at home to West Ham but Neto started at Molineux and played the full match. | AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea's 18-year-old Brazilian whizz kid Estevao missed last weekend's visit of West Ham having returned home to South America on compassionate leave but the midfielder returned within two days - coming off the bench in the midweek Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal and then an unused substitute in Saturday's clash at Molineux.
3. BACK: Estevao
Chelsea's 18-year-old Brazilian whizz kid Estevao missed last weekend's visit of West Ham having returned home to South America on compassionate leave but the midfielder returned within two days - coming off the bench in the midweek Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal and then an unused substitute in Saturday's clash at Molineux. | Mike Egerton/PA Wire
One of four Leeds players back from injury to face Forest. Justin had started last weekend's hosting of Arsenal but the defender injured his toe during the first half and was brought off at the break. Farke feared Justin might have broken his toe but the 27-year-old only suffered bruising and played the full duration of Friday night's win against Forest.
4. BACK: James Justin
One of four Leeds players back from injury to face Forest. Justin had started last weekend's hosting of Arsenal but the defender injured his toe during the first half and was brought off at the break. Farke feared Justin might have broken his toe but the 27-year-old only suffered bruising and played the full duration of Friday night's win against Forest. | AFP via Getty Images
A huge boost for Leeds after nearly two months out, rapid winger James brought on as a 78th-minute substitute in Friday night's win against Forest, bagging his first minutes since suffering a hamstring tendon injury in November's 3-2 defeat at Manchester City.
5. BACK: Dan James
A huge boost for Leeds after nearly two months out, rapid winger James brought on as a 78th-minute substitute in Friday night's win against Forest, bagging his first minutes since suffering a hamstring tendon injury in November's 3-2 defeat at Manchester City. | Getty Images
United's giant Slovenian international centre-back Bijol had missed his side's last three games with a hamstring injury but the defender returned to training ahead of Friday's visit of Forest and made the matchday squad. Bijol was an unused substitute as Farke went with James Justin alongside Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk for his trio of centre-backs.
6. BACK: Jaka Bijol
United's giant Slovenian international centre-back Bijol had missed his side's last three games with a hamstring injury but the defender returned to training ahead of Friday's visit of Forest and made the matchday squad. Bijol was an unused substitute as Farke went with James Justin alongside Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk for his trio of centre-backs. | Getty Images