Leeds United once again take part in the early kick-off this weekend, facing Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.
Last weekend's midday meeting with Tottenham Hotspur proved to be the final straw for the Leeds United board, parting company with revered manager Marcelo Bielsa the following day.
Many supporters feel Bielsa was harshly treated given the extenuating circumstances he has been faced with this season.
New head coach Jesse Marsch revealed he was presented with 'myriad' injury problems upon meeting with the club's medical staff for the first time, including the absences of key first-team players Patrick Bamford, Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper.
The senior trio have been missing for well over half the season; the impact on Leeds' fortunes clearly visible in the 'Goals Against' column.
Marsch spoke to the media following an open training session at the club's Thorp Arch training ground.
Taking part in that session was England forward Patrick Bamford who has missed several months with simultaneous injuries.
While there was a brief, 22-minute reprieve in Bamford's lay-off during early December, the 28-year-old has missed 20 of Leeds United's last 21 league games.
In all, Bamford has played eight times this season, across all competitions, including one appearance for the U23 side.
Towards the end of 2021, he missed 11 games with an ankle injury picked up at Newcastle United.
A second half cameo against Brentford yielded a jubilant last-minute equaliser, but also a hamstring injury, which would sideline him for a further month.
The striker then sustained an injury to the base of his foot, as he overcame the hamstring complaint, meaning since December 5, 2021, Bamford has missed an additional 12 matches.
Yesterday, Marsch appeared optimistic but cautious over Bamford's recovery - something of a seed change from former boss Marcelo Bielsa.
"Patrick Bamford was in training today," the American said.
"We'll evaluate Patrick, see what that means - can he be on the bench or does he need a few more days?
"He's close, I can tell you that, he's close," Marsch added.
Bielsa was asked last week whether Bamford's injury would rule him out until the end of the season, to which he said that 'probably' would not be the case.
It appears likely that after five-and-a-half months without a start for the first-team, Bamford will be carefully integrated back into the side, with Marsch consulting the medical staff on the most appropriate course of action.
A 90-minute stint against Leicester City at the weekend is almost certain not to happen, whilst erring on the side of caution would suggest a place on the bench is as far as Leeds are willing to go.
It is also possible he will be omitted entirely from the travelling squad, so as not to raise expectations unnecessarily.
Marsch's comments on working with the medical staff indicate he is wise enough not to risk the long-term availability of one of his key men. While it would provide a short-term lift - amongst the squad and with the fans - fielding a version of Bamford not quite ready for the rigours of the Premier League would contradict Marsch's own comments yesterday.
"What I need to do is help guys recover as quickly as possible but not overload or endanger them.
"I know that we need points but we need to make sure we're getting stronger as we move along, not weaker."
Catch up with everything Jesse Marsch said in his official Leeds United unveiling here.
