Another Leeds United player faces six-week disciplinary tightrope

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It may only still be October, but Leeds United’s squad depth is being tested as injuries and the threat of suspensions are biting.

Daniel Farke’s men have enjoyed a largely positive first quarter of the Championship season and are right in the promotion mix after putting last season’s play-off heartbreak and a summer that saw some huge departures behind them.

Leeds went into the early Saturday kick-off against Bristol City having lost just once all season despite a lengthy injury list and the looming threat of suspension for some of their key players.

Ethan Amapdu and Ilia Gruev are long-term absentees in the middle of the park, which has seen the club move for free agent Josuha Guilavogui this week, while the likes of Largie Ramazani and Max Wober are also sidelined, while a host of players are one booking away from a one-match ban.

Wilfried Gnonto latest to receive fourth yellow card

Junior Firpo received his fifth yellow card of the season in the win over Watford midweek, meaning he was absent at Ashton Gate, with several of his teammates also walking the disciplinary tightrope.

Jayden Bogle and Joe Rodon both began the Robins clash on four yellows, but a 40th-minute caution for Wilfried Gnonto means that the Italy international is now just one booking away from a one-match suspension, as he also has four on the season.

Gnonto had been a lively presence out wide for Leeds during a first half against Bristol City that finished goalless, but a high tackle as the hosts looked to counter five minutes before half-time saw referee James Linington issue a booking without hesitation.

• READ MORE: Leeds United suspension tracker

Leeds United’s injury and suspension situation

The EFL rules stipulate that any player who is issued with five yellow cards before their club’s 19th fixture will be handed an automatic one-match ban. Currently, Leeds’ 19th match is an Elland Road clash against Derby County on December 7, meaning there is a lot of football to be played before anyone on the disciplinary tightrope can breath easy.

Leeds currently have Bogle, Rodon and Gnonto on four yellows, with that trio the only players who are realistically at threat of accumulating five cautions before the cut-off.

The club’s injury list consists of Ampadu, Wober, Gruev and Ramazani, while the likes of Dan James and Manor Solomon are both freshly back from spells out.