Farke shares Dan James injury update for Leeds v Preston, winger out for season
Daniel Farke has delivered an extensive team news update as Leeds United return to Elland Road for Championship action this weekend.
Preston North End are Leeds’ visitors on Saturday (12 April), and Farke is looking to ensure his side do not fall into the recent run of form from which they are now looking to have emerged.
Ahead of Burnley’s Friday night fixture with Norwich City, Leeds once again occupy top spot having seen Dan James’ winner at Middlesbrough (8 April) prove enough to head back to the summit.
Leeds ace out of the season as Farke makes admission
James may have notched the decisive goal at Boro in the week, but Farke has bad news regarding the winger.
The German has been criticised by some sections of the Leeds support-base for his reluctance to rotate with some of the options he has at his disposal, and James’ extensive run of football – for both the Whites and Wales – has now seen him pick up a hamstring issue which rules him out against Preston – he is also doubtful for the Easter weekend double.
Joe Rothwell will also miss the Preston clash, while Pascal Struijk and Sam Chambers are out for the remainder of the season.
Farke has revealed Struijk will be unavailable for a 10-week period with a foot fracture, ending his campaign, while young winger and attacking midfielder Chambers is sidelined for six weeks with glandular fever, effectively ending the run-in for him, too.
The Athletic’s Beren Cross posted an X feed (11 April) of the full team news update from Farke, who is now forced to shuffle his pack following the fresh absentees at his door.
DF: “We have Struijk, confirm his season is over. He had a fracture in his foot. Out for 10 weeks. Rothwell out and James out for this game. Came out with hamstring problem. Rule him out for the weekend and then we will see. Tight race for Easter.” #lufc
— Beren Cross (@BerenCross) April 11, 2025
Preston pressure is on as several ruled out
It’s a shame for Chambers that he will not be an option for the run-in, having made his debut earlier this season and carries a lot of promise.
In the short-term, the blow for James is a massive one, especially if he doesn’t make it back for Easter weekend, when Leeds face two matches.
With Burnley and Sheffield United still to meet, Leeds’ run-in is more favourable than that of their promotion rivals, but it’s not something fans want to hear. They want proof in the pudding.
| POS | Championship table 2024-25 | PLD | PTS | GD |
| 1 | LEEDS UNITED | 41 | 85 | +52 |
| 2 | Burnley | 41 | 85 | +43 |
| 3 | Sheffield United | 41 | 83 | +25 |
Farke has taken flak for refusing to give more game time to players on his bench who would walk into most Championship starting XIs. But now he will have some key decisions to make.
Should Leeds get what looks on paper to be a routine victory over the line, they will be in a superb position. However, as seen several times this year, paper in the Championship holds little weight.