Leeds United will look to end a run of three consecutive defeats in Saturday’s almighty task at title-chasing Manchester City - for which fresh blows have left three men out and two more a doubt.
City and Leeds sit at opposite ends of the Premier League table, City third but Leeds now third-bottom after losing three games on the spin for the first time this season.
The two teams have also had very different run-ups to Saturday’s 3pm kick-off at the Etihad, Leeds having a free midweek but City playing in the Champions League on Tuesday evening at home to Bayer Leverkusen.
The week of rest, though, has not led to Leeds faring better than their hosts on the injuries front with fresh blows ruling big Whites players out of Saturday afternoon’s clash in Manchester although City also have key men out.
Upon fresh team news being provided, here, we run through the latest injury news from both camps including a star now being back.
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1. BACK: Willy Gnonto
Starting with the positives and a big Leeds boost, Italian international winger Gnonto finally bagging his first minutes since September when brought on as an 80th-minute substitute in Sunday's defeat to Villa. The Italian had been back in training for a few weeks after recovering from calf issues and then minor hernia surgery. | Getty Images
2. BACK: Dan James
Whites winger James has now been back for five weeks upon returning earlier than expected from a rolled ankle injury although the Wales international ace has still yet to start. James got just ten minutes from the bench against Villa and quickly looked lively along with Gnonto. Could now be back in the mix to start. | Getty Images
3. BACK: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Whites striker Calvert-Lewin was a doubt for the clash at Forest due to an adductor strain but made the bench and was brought on in the second half. Calvert-Lewin again had to make do with a place on the bench against Villa as Lukas Nmecha kept his place upfront, Calvert-Lewin eventually brought on with 19 minutes left. With Calvert-Lewin now having two outings from the bench under his belt, it will be interesting to see who starts upfront. | Danny Lawson/PA Wire
4. OUT: Anton Stach
A new Leeds blow confirmed by Farke at Thursday's pre-match press conference, German midfielder Stach suffering a blow to the head as he landed after challenging Villa keeper Emi Martinez in the move which led to Lukas Nmecha's opener in Sunday's defeat to Villa. Stach attempted to play on but a concussion substitution was eventually used to take him off and the German will definitely miss Saturday's game due to concussion protocols. Set to return to training on Sunday if all goes well. | Getty Images
5. OUT: Sean Longstaff
Another fresh Leeds blow, Farke revealing that centre midfielder Longstaff was now facing four to six weeks with a calf injury suffered in last weekend's defeat to Villa. Longstaff has been virtually ever present, starting every league game apart form the Everton opener since joining from Newcastle United and quickly becoming a key player. | Mike Egerton/PA Wire
6. OUT: Mateo Kovacic
Croatian international midfielder Kovacic has played just four minutes of football so far this season and is now recovering from ankle surgery. It was thought that Kovacic would be facing a few months out, the 31-year-old expected to be back in the new year. | Getty Images