Leeds United will resume their bid for Premier League survival with Saturday’s huge clash at third-placed Aston Villa - for which blows have left four men and six more doubtful.
Leeds and Villa were both in action in the FA Cup fourth round at the weekend, Villa going first with Saturday’s hosting of Newcastle United which ultimately ended in a 3-1 defeat.
Unai Emery’s side already had key men missing for the visit of the Magpies and Villa were then dealt further blows in the tie itself which may now have consequences as far as Saturday’s visit of Leeds is concerned.
Leeds, though, already without key men themselves, also suffered a fresh injury blow in Sunday’s clash at Birmingham City which went all the way to penalties after a 1-1 draw, a 4-2 win on spot kicks eventually putting Daniel Farke’s Whites in the fifth round draw.
All told, it’s now left four men out of Saturday’s 3pm kick-off at Villa Park and six others doubtful although three others are now back.
Here, we run through the early injury and team news from both camps.
Whites no 9 Calvert-Lewin missed Tuesday night's Premier League clash at Chelsea due to being unwell but the striker returned to training ahead of Sunday's FA Cup clash at Birmingham and brought on as a second-half substitute. Calvert-Lewin quickly looked sharp and his return is clearly a massive boost.
1. BACK: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Whites no 9 Calvert-Lewin missed Tuesday night's Premier League clash at Chelsea due to being unwell but the striker returned to training ahead of Sunday's FA Cup clash at Birmingham and brought on as a second-half substitute. Calvert-Lewin quickly looked sharp and his return is clearly a massive boost. | Getty Images
Villa's Spanish right back Garcia had missed his side's last four games with a hamstring injury and it was thought the 23-year-old would also miss Saturday's FA Cup clash against Newcastle but Garcia returned to make the bench where he was an unused substitute.
2. BACK: Andres Garcia
Villa's Spanish right back Garcia had missed his side's last four games with a hamstring injury and it was thought the 23-year-old would also miss Saturday's FA Cup clash against Newcastle but Garcia returned to make the bench where he was an unused substitute. | Getty Images
Villa midfielder Barkley suffered a knee injury in November's 1-0 win at home to Wolves, after which it feared he could be looking at up to three months out. Barkley, though, upon recently returning to training, bagged minutes from the bench in the league clashes against Bournemouth and Brighton earlier this month and then started Sunday's FA Cup clash against Newcastle in which he came through 65 minutes.
3. BACK: Ross Barkley
Villa midfielder Barkley suffered a knee injury in November's 1-0 win at home to Wolves, after which it feared he could be looking at up to three months out. Barkley, though, upon recently returning to training, bagged minutes from the bench in the league clashes against Bournemouth and Brighton earlier this month and then started Sunday's FA Cup clash against Newcastle in which he came through 65 minutes. | Getty Images
Villa's France international midfielder Kamara is one of three longer term absentees for Emery's side, the 26-year-old set to miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury suffered in January's FA Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur. A big miss.
4. OUT: Boubacar Kamara
Villa's France international midfielder Kamara is one of three longer term absentees for Emery's side, the 26-year-old set to miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury suffered in January's FA Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur. A big miss. | Getty Images
Another particularly big miss for Villa, Belgian international midfielder Tielemans suffering an ankle injury in the 2-0 win at Newcastle United at the end of January, the 28-year-old thought to be looking at around eight weeks out.
5. OUT: Youri Tielemans
Another particularly big miss for Villa, Belgian international midfielder Tielemans suffering an ankle injury in the 2-0 win at Newcastle United at the end of January, the 28-year-old thought to be looking at around eight weeks out. | Getty Images
Another hugely important player out - the captain no less - who completes the trio of longer term Villa absentees. Experienced Scotland international midfielder McGinn suffered a knee injury in last month's 1-0 defeat at home to Everton and consequently went under the knife. A bit like Tielemans, McGinn is thought to be looking at around two months out.
6. OUT: John McGinn
Another hugely important player out - the captain no less - who completes the trio of longer term Villa absentees. Experienced Scotland international midfielder McGinn suffered a knee injury in last month's 1-0 defeat at home to Everton and consequently went under the knife. A bit like Tielemans, McGinn is thought to be looking at around two months out. | Danny Lawson/PA Wire