Leeds United are now just three days away from returning to action with a trip to Watford.
The Championship has been forced to come to a standstill over the last week or so due to the international break, which will come to an end after tonight’s fixtures.
Plenty of Leeds players are actually in action for their respective countries this evening and so Daniel Farke will have his fingers crossed they all return with a clean bill of health.
Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas were Leeds’ only absentees last time out, though Georginio Rutter and Junior Firpo are both doubtful for Good Friday, with the former having had minor surgery, and the latter still in international action in the early hours of Wednesday morning, in Peru.
Opponents Watford, though, look set to be without a few key players too, and they are particularly looking a little weaker at the back.
Watford could be without near ever present and £15m man vs Leeds
One man who definitely won’t be playing for the Hornets at Vicarage Road is centre-back Wesley Hoedt, who will be serving the second of a two-match ban for picking up 10 yellow cards.
Hoedt had played every single minute of every Championship game this season until last time out at Birmingham City, and clearly he will be a big miss at the back.
Interim boss Tom Cleverley could also be without his first choice left-back Jamal Lewis, who he had initially been hopeful would return on Friday.
£15m man Lewis has been away on international duty with Northern Ireland and was hoping to feature at Scotland tonight, but manager Michael O’Neill says his injury has not recovered as expected, putting his availability in doubt on Friday.
He said: “We are as we were on Friday to be honest. Jamal unfortunately returned to his club and it [recovery] hasn’t responded as quickly as we’d hoped. Ross McCausland is in a similar situation. We were optimistic but unfortunately we’ve not had either player join up with us.”
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, both Ken Sema and Jeremy Ngakia are also expected to be missing, while former Leeds summer target Emmanel Dennis also been carrying a minor knock.
Predicted Leeds XI to face Watford
Providing all of his internationals return fit and healthy, Farke will be hopeful he does not have to make too many changes this weekend.
As mentioned, Firpo’s availability looks highly unlikely and so providing there are no fresh injury concerns, Sam Byram looks a certainty to start at left-back.
If Leeds’ initial timescale on Rutter’s injury is correct, it will be touch and go as to whether he is fit enough to feature, which would mean a change to the attack.
Joel Piroe feels like the most obvious replacement, but Farke should consider bringing Dan James into the side and moving one of Willy Gnonto or Crysencio Summerville central instead.