Leeds United boss Daniel Farke faces a few team selection headaches for his side’s visit to QPR, with some fresh injury concerns impacting the squad for the final few Championship matches of the season.
It’s a problem that The Whites haven’t encountered on too many occasions through the campaign. But with the end in sight and Championship promotion their aim, they face two big games to get themselves over the line.
Leeds sit in second following their intense 4-3 win over Middlesbrough, which took some steely resistance to close out in the final few minutes.
The Elland Road outfit now sit one point clear of Ipswich Town and with the opportunity to extend that to four points on Friday – though the Tractor Boys will have two games in hand heading into the weekend.
While they will need a favour from elsewhere to gain promotion, the focus will simply be on things that the Leeds boss can control, which is the next match against QPR.
The Hoops can confirm their Championship status for another season with a victory, following an incredible turnaround in fortunes under Marti Cifuentes.
It will be far from an easy clash, but one that Farke will want his side to win, especially if Leeds are to avoid the lottery of the Championship play-offs.
Leeds United injury latest
As many as five Leeds United players could be missing when they make the trip to Loftus Road to take on QPR on Friday night.
Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas are expected to miss the rest of the season through long-term injury problems.
Connor Roberts was absent from the squad that beat Middlesbrough on Monday, with a muscular issue likely to keep him out against QPR with a projected return for Southampton on the final day.
Dan James is a confirmed absence after Leeds released a statement revealing a new injury in the abdomen region was picked up at the Riverside Stadium.
Farke also confirmed that Patrick Bamford is a major doubt to face QPR after taking a knock to his knee against Boro.
Confirmed Leeds absentees
QPR injury updates
QPR are expected to miss three of their first-team stars heading into their final match at Loftus Road this season.
The Rs will be near a full-strength squad at the disposal of Cifuentes, who has managed to pick up seven points in the last five games.
In terms of those players missing from the clash, Rayan Kolli, Taylor Richards and Michael Frey are all ruled out.
Championship run-in
The final week of the regulation Championship season is here and it’s time for teams to throw everything at reaching their goals for the campaign.
For Leeds, the equation is simple in that they need to better Ipswich’s final run-in to earn an instant return to the Premier League.
The Tractor Boys have promotion in their own hands, but they play all three of their final games over the next week.
Should The Whites put points on the board, it may crank up that pressure on Kieran McKenna to get results against Hull City, Coventry City and Huddersfield Town.
