Leeds United appear to have suffered a major setback in their bid to finish above West Ham in the Premier League relegation race.
Much of the build-up to last weekend’s FA Cup quarter-final centred on whether it was worth risking first-team players with such an important league run-in ahead — and that decision may now be catching up with them.
FA Cup gamble begins to backfire
West Ham had already seen the downside of cup football, with Crysencio Summerville sidelined by a calf injury picked up in the previous round against Brentford.
Nuno Espirito Santo opted for something of a halfway house, selecting a mix of first-team players while leaving some key names, including Summerville, out of the squad altogether.
Leeds and Daniel Farke took a different approach, going full strength — and in the short term, it paid off as they reached the FA Cup final at Wembley and knocked West Ham out.
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Injury problems mount after win
However, as that game wore on and eventually went to penalties, more and more Leeds players began to struggle physically, with key players being substituted.
The result is now a growing injury list that could impact not just their next fixture, but the remainder of the season.
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Key players ruled out for Old Trafford trip
Leeds will travel to face Manchester United on Monday evening without key players Stach and Rodon, with both set for spells on the sidelines, according to Farke in his press conference today. Both have been in tremendous form this season and have certainly been two of the clubs better players.
Dan James and Noah Okafor are also out, while Jaka Bijol is dealing with a knock — leaving Leeds facing significant changes ahead of the trip to Old Trafford.
Final day clash still to come
West Ham face Leeds United on the final day of the season at the London Stadium — a fixture that could yet carry major significance in the relegation battle.