Daniel Farke and Leeds fall victim to demands amid new injury blow

Leeds United approach their Championship return to Elland Road with several players missing as they take on Preston North End.

Dan James and Joe Rothwell have now been added to the list of absentees for this Saturday against Preston (12 April), in which the Whites will attempt to affirm their position at the top of the table at the season's business end.

Pascal Struijk has now been ruled out for the rest of the season along with Sam Chambers, while Patrick Bamford is currently only deemed capably fit enough to appear from the bench.

Daniel Farke and Leeds victim of heavy schedule, says Ian Darke

Leeds were recently forced into reshuffling their pack after the international break, when Ao Tanaka and Junior Firpo were late arrivals back from the Far East and the Caribbean, respectively.

Farke benched the pair after their long journeys back to the UK when the Whites were held by Swansea City (29 March), only just rekindling their form with a crucial midweek win at Middlesbrough (8 April).

With the injury updates from the medical department at Thorp Arch that have now gathered on Farke's desk, TV commentator Ian Darke has offered his sympathy towards the demands.

James, for instance, has been a key regular for both Leeds and Wales over recent weeks and months as he attempts to simultaneously achieve promotion and major tournament qualification.

"I think it's really difficult. That can especially be the case with the South American and Caribbean players, who are playing games in the early hours," Darke exclusively told MOT Leeds News.

"Then you have to fly through five or six time zones back to England. We know as normal civilians how rough it is. But then again, even the ones who didn't have to travel have got international games right before the run-in for the domestic season.

"That obviously recently played a part with Farke, and it's difficult when they're without them for preparation. Of course they're professional players - they're not in check-in queues and things like that - but with the demand, they have injuries."

Farke partly to blame?

Saturday's visiting manager, Paul Heckingbottom, albeit fairly briefly knows the pressures of taking the reins at Leeds United.

Farke is under that expectation tenfold - he knows this season is highly likely to be his final opportunity to take Leeds back to the Premier League and achieve his third career Championship promotion.

As a result, it is little wonder in that regard why the German is reluctant to make too much rotation to his squad, when there are top talents sitting on the bench.

Hindsight is wonderful to now judge whether James, Struijk and - slightly less so - Rothwell were overplayed, but it could now be the crucial end of the campaign when some unlikely candidates are given their chance to become Elland Road icons.