Final team news has been provided for Leeds United’s trip to highflying Aston Villa, for which fresh blows have left seven out but amid confirmation that key men are now back.
Saturday’s 3pm kick-off at Villa Park presents another huge game at both ends of the Premier League table in which Villa sit third and only three points behind second-placed Manchester City.
Unai Emery’s hosts are eight points behind leaders Arsenal but having played a game less and certainly in the title race conversation to some degree.
At the other end of the table, Daniel Farke’s Whites sit six points clear of the relegation zone and heading to Villa Park still in the midst of a fine run featuring just two defeats from the club’s last 15 games.
Upon the final dose of Leeds team news being provided, Farke’s side will also be boosted by the return of three key men for Saturday’s clash at Villa Park although with another Whites star out.
But Villa have a much longer list of absentees, updates on which were provided on Friday afternoon through Unai Emery’s pre-match press conference.
With the final team news from both sides having now been provided, here we run through the final injury news from both camps which totals seven out but six others back.
Villa's Argentinian attacking midfielder Buendia took a knock during last weekend's FA Cup defeat to Newcastle United but managed to complete the match having come on as a second-half substitute. The 29-year-old was not mention as one of the players out or injured by Emery at his pre-match press conference so it appears all systems to face the Whites.
1. BACK: Emi Buendia
Villa's Argentinian attacking midfielder Buendia took a knock during last weekend's FA Cup defeat to Newcastle United but managed to complete the match having come on as a second-half substitute. The 29-year-old was not mention as one of the players out or injured by Emery at his pre-match press conference so it appears all systems to face the Whites. | 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. Another now back in the mix.
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. Another now back in the mix. | AFP via Getty Images
Villa's first choice right back Cash has missed his side's last two games with a knee injury but Emery revealed at Friday's pre-match press conference that the defender was now back in a particularly huge boost for his side.
3. BACK: Matty Cash
Villa's first choice right back Cash has missed his side's last two games with a knee injury but Emery revealed at Friday's pre-match press conference that the defender was now back in a particularly huge boost for his side. | Getty Images
And here begins a triple Leeds boost, Stach having been out since suffering a hip injury ahead of Leeds' Friday win over Nottingham Forest and missing the three games that followed. But in a flurry of positive injury news, Farke confirmed the midfielder was back at Thursday's pre-match presser.
4. BACK: Anton Stach
And here begins a triple Leeds boost, Stach having been out since suffering a hip injury ahead of Leeds' Friday win over Nottingham Forest and missing the three games that followed. But in a flurry of positive injury news, Farke confirmed the midfielder was back at Thursday's pre-match presser. | Getty Images
Another key Leeds man who has been out with a hip injury, Struijk suffered his problem on the back of the 3-1 win against Forest. Like Stach, the Dutch defender has also returned to team training.
5. BACK: Pascal Struijk
Another key Leeds man who has been out with a hip injury, Struijk suffered his problem on the back of the 3-1 win against Forest. Like Stach, the Dutch defender has also returned to team training. | Getty Images
Back pain kept James out of Sunday's cup tie at Birmingham as a precaution, the winger having only just returned from a three-month hamstring tendon injury. But he's back too and Farke hopes that is for good.
6. BACK: Dan James
Back pain kept James out of Sunday's cup tie at Birmingham as a precaution, the winger having only just returned from a three-month hamstring tendon injury. But he's back too and Farke hopes that is for good. | Getty Images