Credit: Imago

James Barker

Fri 1 May 2026 11:40, UK

Sam Byram could be given the chance of a fitting Leeds United send-off thanks to Gabriel Gudmundsson’s injury absence.

The 32-year-old defender is a product of Leeds’ academy system, having joined the Whites as a boy.

After progressing through the youth ranks at Thorp Arch, Byram eventually broke into the Whites’ first-team during the 2012-13 season, playing a whopping 53 games in all competitions that term.

Moves to West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Norwich would follow during the prime years of his career, before eventually returning to Elland Road in the summer of 2023.

Since then, he’s played a further 80 times for Leeds, but with just four games to play in the 2025-26 campaign, Byram may be in the final hours of his Whites career.

Gabriel Gudmundsson injury can offer Sam Byram Leeds chance

Gabriel Gudmundsson has suffered a hamstring strain, and will be sidelined for at least Leeds’ next two matches.

That starts with a home encounter against Burnley on Friday night, with Daniel Farke‘s side taking on the now-managerless and already relegated Clarets in an 8pm kick-off at Elland Road.

Leeds will of course be heavy favourites to claim victory on Friday night, and now that they’ve reached the magic 40 points tally, they are now on the verge of securing mathematical Premier League safety.

Farke won’t want to take his foot off the gas, but he may also see these final few games as an opportunity to hand some minutes and opportunities to fringe players ahead of summer decisions being made regarding their futures.

One of those currently heading for the exit door is Byram, with the left-back out of contract at the end of this season.

He’s barely featured for Leeds in 2025-26, making just four total appearances in all competitions, but the Whites academy product has been an excellent servant to the football club over his career.

So, with him likely heading for the free agent market in a matter of weeks, wouldn’t it be brilliant to see him given the chance to end his Leeds career with some significant Premier League minutes?

How is Farke likely to approach Gudmundsson injury?

What is perhaps more likely to happen is that Farke will push the versatile James Justin to left-back/wing-back, and keep Jayden Bogle on the right.

That’s probably a wise decision for Burnley at least, as three points against the Clarets would make absolutely certain of their Premier League status for 2026-27.

Perhaps then over the final three games, the German might feel more inclined to rotate his team and protect his star players who have endured a long and tiring campaign.

That could then see Byram come into the team for the last few matches, or at the very least, the veteran should get the chance to come off the bench, allowing him and the supporters to say their likely goodbyes to one another.