In some ways it’s a fitting end to the season that Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa has to navigate the play-offs with an injury-hit squad.
The Argentinian has been forced to contend with absences throughout the Championship campaign, and the final stretch is proving no different.
Leeds ran out 1-0 winners over Derby County at Pride Park in the first leg of the play-off semi-final, but they had to do it in spite of a few injury setbacks.
Pontus Jansson said he hoped to overcome an ankle complaint, joking he’d play in a wheelchair if he needed to, but he failed to pass a late fitness test and sat out with Gaetano Berardi stepping up to help keep a clean sheet in his place.
Some players will be hoping to feature again as Leeds try to clinch promotion through the players, while others won’t appear again until next season.
Here’s everything we know about United’s injuries ahead of the second leg against Derby.
Pontus Jansson
The outspoken defender had talked up the Derby clash, but he had to watch from the sidelines on Saturday after failing to recover in time due to an ankle injury.
His manager could offer no further information on a possible return date after the match, saying he didn’t know whether Jansson would be fit for Wednesday’s second leg.
Adam Forshaw
Bielsa has tended to use the Liverpudlian when available, either instead of Kalvin Phillips at the base of midfield or further forward, but he was without him for the majority of the Derby clash after he limped off after just 22 minutes.
Speaking after the match, he Leeds boss added no further details of the injury, but added that he didn’t think Forshaw would be back in time for Wednesday.
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Barry Douglas
The Scotland international saw his season come to a a premature end at the beginning of April, rupturing his knee ligaments as the Whites clinched a dramatic 3-2 win over Millwall.
It was hoped that the club were buying one of the best left-backs in the division when he joined from Wolves in the summer, but Douglas has suffered a frustrating campaign blighted by injury.
Gjanni Alioski
Establishing himself as a fine left-back in place of Douglas, the North Macedonian is also out for the remainder after a torn meniscus forced him off during Leeds’ 1-0 defeat to Brentford on Easter Monday.
A cult figure, he’s looked in fine spirits as he’s joked around at Thorp Arch as usual, but his absence means Bielsa has had to be creative, using the versatile Stuart Dallas.
Leif Davis
The academy product has often sat on the bench this season, offering an extra option in place of Alioski. But after undergoing a knee operation, he’ll play no further part this season.
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Tyler Roberts
The 20-year-old has often been one of the club’s brighter players in the final third, and he looked particularly impressive when played out wide in the recent 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.
Bielsa had said he was hopeful that Roberts would return for the play-offs after a “not serious” kept him out of the final league fixture against Ipswich, but he wasn’t able to return on Saturday. Watch this space to find out if he’ll be available for the second leg.
Suspensions
Nobody is suspended. Patrick Bamford is back available after serving his two-match suspension for “successful deception of a match official” after his tumble in the fracas with Aston Villa saw Anwar El Ghazi sent off.
