Pete Hanson

Sat 23 December 2023 12:00, UK

There was a notable absence from the Leeds United substitutes named for the game against Ipswich Town on Saturday (23 December) but Graham Smyth has explained the reasoning.

Daniel Farke named an unchanged starting XI for the blockbuster fixture at Elland Road, where Leeds are aiming to cut the 10-point gap to second-place Ipswich.

However, on-loan Bournemouth winger was a notable absentee from the substitutes’ bench with Ian Poveda – back from international duty – included as a forward option off the bench.

But Yorkshire Evening Post writer Smyth took to X to explain it was nothing untoward, though, writing: “Jaidon Anthony misses out today through illness.”

Good to know

Anthony will have expected to feature much more prominently for Leeds this term after joining on loan from Bournemouth when Luis Sinisterra headed in the opposite direction to the South Coast.

However, the forward has started just two Championship fixtures under Daniel Farke, and made 16 league appearances in total, with the form of Crysencio Summerville and Daniel James meaning his path to the starting XI has been blocked.

Still, when you are entering a busy festive period the last thing you want is for any player to be unavailable because the games come thick and fast and the whole squad is going to be needed to rest tired bodies.

Thankfully it looks as though Anthony’s absence is not particularly untoward, although it was not clarified what the illness is and how long it might keep him sidelined. Farke will hope he is back for the trip to Preston on Boxing Day.

In other Leeds United news, a senior ace was also nowhere to be seen at Elland Road.