Sam Byram and Jamie Shackleton ruled out as Patrick Bamford issue emerges - Early Leeds United team news v Sunderland

Daniel Farke has confirmed that Leeds United defender Sam Byram will be out of Tuesday's game against Sunderland at Elland Road and is likely to miss three weeks.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Monday (11 December), the German coach confirmed the diagnosis is three to four weeks for Byram while Jamie Shackleton is also out of Tuesday's (12 December) game with a glute injury.

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford faces a late fitness test for the Championship clash against the Black Cats after sitting out of Saturday's 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers through illness and Farke confirmed he hasn't trained yet.

Farke also announced there is an illness sweeping through the camp so it is difficult to assess who will be available just yet.

Byram and Shackleton join Junior Firpo on the treatment table with Farke expecting them back possibly by January at the earliest. Firpo is said to be closing in on a return to training.

Blow

Byram will be a huge miss for Leeds United given his tremendous form for the club over the past few weeks and it leaves Farke desperately short of options at left-back given the injury to Firpo also.

Who Farke calls upon against managerless Sunderland is uncertain but it does seem as if the German will turn to Tottenham loanee Djed Spence for the game after making a brief cameo against Blackburn.

Spence may be needed in an unfamiliar role at left-back but the former Nottingham Forest defender has played in the role before and may be required against Sunderland on Tuesday.

Fans know whoever Farke puts out against the Black Cats on Tuesday, will perform to their utmost levels to ensure the Whites secure their third win on the trot and increase the pressure on Ipswich Town and Leicester City.

Moreover, Bamford's fitness issues have become a concern for the Whites all season which certainly puts his immediate future at Elland Road in serious doubt right now but when the forward is available, he could be incredibly useful but for the short-term, it seems.

In other Leeds United news, our Expert also believes that the Whites could fine one of their players after an incident.