Blackburn Rovers' 14-goal man gives Leeds United major shot-in-the-arm with injury declaration

Leeds United visit Ewood Park this weekend, eager to maintain their current winning run which has seen the Whites pick up five victories from their last six fixtures. Since defeat by Stoke City back in October, Leeds have beaten Huddersfield Town, Leicester City, Plymouth Argyle, Swansea City and Middlesbrough, whilst drawing 1-1 with Rotherham United.

United remain undefeated at Elland Road this season, but this Saturday's lunchtime kick-off takes place across the Pennines, which will pose a different task altogether. Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph following a 3-1 humbling by a bottom-dwelling Wednesday side, only their second victory of the campaign, 14-goal Championship top scorer Szmodics candidly admitted Rovers are feeling 'hurt' and 'tired' after two new injury blows.

"It's a young bench, a young team," he said. "We have been hit with loads of injuries. Tyrhys Dolan really, [Arnor] Sigurdsson didn't travel, we have been hit with lots of them."

Rovers named four academy graduates on the bench for their defeat at Hillsborough, the average age of those in reserve no more than 20 years of age, after Dolan was ruled out for two months with a knee injury.

"We can't complain, these things happen in football. The squad isn't humungous, the starting XI has been consistent over the season. The bench was very young and it was a great experience for them.

"We are all disappointed with the result today and we will go again. It's the perfect time for a free week, everyone is hurting in there, everyone is tired," Szmodics added.

The 28-year-old currently leads the second tier's goalscoring standings, but unlike Leeds who've several players with several goals this term, Rovers' second-top scorer is the injured Sigurdsson with ten fewer than his Irish teammate.

Leeds, on the other hand, have Crysencio Summerville and Joel Piroe on eight apiece, with Dan James on six following closely behind. In addition, four-goal man Georginio Rutter has a team-high seven assists to his name, too, illuminating the multi-faceted attacking threat Daniel Farke's front four carries. The Leeds boss will be keen to ensure Szmodics' admission that Rovers are struggling with injuries and the schedule does not breed complacency among his group. United's away form has not been quite as consistent as their home displays, and Blackburn's position in the table, one place outside the play-offs, trailing Leeds by ten points, will hopefully make sure the Whites take Saturday afternoon's challenge seriously.