New announcement today could harm Leeds United promotion hopes
It’s no secret that Leeds United are one of the teams that Sky Sports are always keen to show on their featured games from the Championship.
Alongside Leicester City this season, the Whites have already seen a number of fixtures moved so that the broadcaster can show Daniel Farke’s side, including the opening weekend match with Cardiff City as well as the win over Millwall at The Den.
That tradition has continued following the announcement that matches against Rotherham and Sunderland have been selected for broadcast in November and December respectively, while advice from the Lancashire police has seen the trip to Blackburn pushed forward.
Leeds’ clash with Rotherham now takes place on Friday 24 November, instead of Saturday 25, meaning Farke will have very little time to work with the international members of his team, with the likes of Archie Gray, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon and Dan James unlikely to return to training until Wednesday 22 November at best.
The Welsh members of the Whites side play against Turkey in what may be a crucial Euro 2024 qualifier on Tuesday 21 November, so it is more than likely that they won’t return to Leeds training until the day before the match at the New York Stadium.
There is an upside to this switch however, as Leeds then have five full days to recover before they face Swansea City on Wednesday 29 November, as they enter the most congested period of the campaign where they play 10 games in six and a half weeks.
Luckily, the movement of the other two matches should have little effect on the pitch as the fixture against Blackburn comes after Farke’s side have a week without a midweek match, while the trip to the Stadium of Light is played on the same night as originally planned.
Farke has already been vocal about his unhappiness with the decision to move some of Leeds United’s matches earlier this season, especially when he believed that Hull City were given more time to prepare when they met in September [Hull Live, 17 September].
The German boss is unlikely to be happy to miss out on a whole day’s worth of training following the November international break, as he will have several key players in his squad away with their national sides as he begins his preparations to face Rotherham.
Judging by the TV selections so far this season, Leeds United will see a lot more fixtures moved in the coming months in what could further harm any promotion hopes.
In other Leeds United news, Real Betis may not be able to afford to make Marc Roca’s loan move permanent next summer