The trio, who are normally starters for Daniel Farke, are not expected to be out for long
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
05:00, 12 Feb 2026
Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed the draw at Chelsea
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed the draw at Chelsea(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Leeds United managed to secure a point away at Chelsea with three of their key players missing, something which Daniel Farke alluded to after full-time.
To come away from Stamford Bridge with a 2-2 draw without regular starters Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach and Pascal Struijk showed maturity from a side that looks like it belongs in the Premier League.
All the while, Jaka Bijol started his first Leeds game since his return from a hamstring injury while Daniel James got more minutes having come back from his own longer-term hamstring setback.
With Championship outfit Birmingham City the hosts for Sunday’s midday FA Cup fourth round tie, there is set to be some rotation. So some players might not get onto the pitch despite being back available. Nevertheless, here is the latest state of play.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Calvert-Lewin missed the trip to Chelsea through illness, something Farke had referenced in the build up to the match. That is the first Premier League game he has missed since his Leeds debut.
It is not known how severe the bout of illness is but it would be no surprise to see him rested out of the starting XI at Birmingham anyway. If he is available, he may take the squad and come on later in the game to keep the match sharpness at a good level.
Possible return date: February 15 vs Birmingham City
Anton Stach
Stach’s issue is to do with his hip. The initial recovery timeline - which was given last Wednesday - was 10 to 14 days, which means he looks set to miss the visit to St Andrew’s.
Given his importance to the team, Leeds may feel it best not to risk him in the FA Cup game and Farke has indeed said it is the Premier League visit to Aston Villa which looks to be his return date. So his return to action will come in Birmingham regardless.
Possible return date: February 21 vs Aston Villa
Pascal Struijk
Struijk sat out the Chelsea draw due to a hip flexor setback. The extent of his injury is unclear, though Farke’s comments perhaps infer it is not a major concern.
“The turnaround is too quick for him to play,” said the Leeds boss, which indicates that a longer turnaround might have denoted a different story. His absence versus Chelsea was the first Premier League matchday squad he missed all season.
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Possible return date: February 15 vs Birmingham City
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