Leeds United have a few more injury woes to contend with ahead of their gameweek 3 clash against Chelsea in the 2022/23 Premier League.
Both clubs have started the season fairly well with the pair winning one and drawing one each. The Yorkshire-based club won their first game against Wolves whilst they relinquished points from a winning position against Southampton in gameweek 2. Meanwhile, the Blues had edged Everton by a one-goal margin in gameweek 1 whilst they were controversially denied three points by VAR and Anthony Taylor in the most recent London derby against Tottenham.
Ahead of this clash, both Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante are expected to be out of contention, although there is a slight chance the Croatian could be fit enough for a bench place at the very least. Thankfully, the west Londoners are not suffering from as many injuries in comparison to their hosts for this contest. Jesse Marsch, who is speaking to the press on Friday at a similar time to Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, is expected to reaffirm that four players are still out of contention.
READ MORE: Mateo Kovacic, N'Golo Kante: Chelsea injury news and expected return dates before Leeds United
Although defender Liam Cooper is expected to make his return after he has recovered from an Achilles injury, as per Leeds Live. The same can be said for Joe Gelhardt who has also recovered from his leg injury.
On the other hand, all of Junior Firpo, Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas are still out with respective injuries with the latter two out for a longer period of time.
However, the main absence from the squad is star striker Patrick Bamford, who has confirmed that this game has come too soon for him after he suffered an adductor injury in the first half of the Southampton clash.
With no new striker signed amid Charles De Ketelaere AC Milan snub and Raphinha's exit, Marsch isn't likely to take risks at this early stage of the season with the Lilywhites' survival arguably dependent on the 28-year-old and his injury status throughout the months.
"I will probably miss the Chelsea game but I think it is just part and parcel of coming back. I barely played last year and barely trained as well," he said in a podcast this week via The Yorkshire Post.
"The amount of times I trained from when I first got injured until the end of the season was probably less than 10 – actually training with the team.
“It was basically like a whole year out. Until I felt it on Saturday, I felt alright.”
With this update taken into account, expect one of Daniel James, Rodrigo or someone like Luis Sinisterra to start as a false 9 in this contest with no standout back-up to Bamford present currently. Whether or not Leeds do sign a new striker before September 1 deadline remains to be seen.
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