Daniel Farke reveals optimistic Joe Rodon recovery timescale after Leeds injury blow
Leeds United will be without Joe Rodon for several weeks with an ankle ligament injury.
Rodon limped off against Sunderland on 28 December, after receiving multiple heavy blows to his ankle.
Leeds drew 1-1 with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin finished a superb team goal that handed Daniel Farke‘s side another solid away point.
Up next on the agenda is a trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool on New Year’s Day, with Leeds hoping to extend their five-game unbeaten run.
Farke reveals Rodon injury return timetable
Farke initially described Rodon’s injury as a ‘swollen ankle’, and knew that he would be forced to miss a couple of games at least.
However, speaking in his pre-Liverpool press conference via LeedsLive, the Whites boss has now painted a clearer picture of just how long Leeds will be without their star defender.
“He will miss the Liverpool game. Diagnosis is better than first feared,” Farke began.
“Ankle ligament injury – normally out for around three weeks, but we have hope because he is a good healer – perhaps involve him before.
“Hopefully other side of the FA Cup game. No new injuries.”
Rodon’s 2025-26 season by the numbers so far – this is why he’s so key for Leeds
Having signed for Leeds on an initial loan deal from Tottenham in the summer of 2023, Rodon ensured his permanent signature was a no-brainer for the Whites come the following summer window.
Starting all 46 Championship matches last season, the Wales international was integral to Leeds’ title-winning campaign and established himself as a real leader in the team.
- Rodon played 4,136 minutes in the Championship last season
- He averaged a 7.25/10 rating per game in 2024-25
- No Championship centre-back finished last season with more touches of the ball than Rodon (4,240)
Stepping up to the Premier League hasn’t been much of an issue for him either, and he has started all 18 of Leeds’ top-flight games so far.
As per FotMob, among Premier League central defenders so far this term, Rodon ranks in the top 12.3 percentile for shots (12), top 7.4 percentile for touches in the opposition box (28) and the top 9.9 percentile for aerial duels won (55).
On top of that, he’s registering an 88.8 per cent pass success rate, has won 82 ground duels, made 16 interceptions, recovered the ball 51 times and blocked 12 shots.
In short, he’s remained integral to Leeds’ defensive line this season, and will be a major blow for Farke with him now set to be sidelined for most of January.
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