As expected, the fitness of Pascal Struijk was the first topic on the agenda during Daniel Farke’s Friday press conference as the Leeds United boss looks ahead to the weekend’s visit of Preston North End.
Leeds suffered an untimely ‘sucker punch’ when Struijk hobbled off late on during the 1-1 draw with Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.
And, having already missed four Championship games in January, the man who has captained Leeds United on a number of occasions this term has now officially kicked his last ball in a competitive sense during the 2024/25 campaign.
Joe Rothwell faces another few weeks on the sidelines, too.
The Bournemouth loanee picked up a calf issue in the build up to that Luton trip. As such, he now faces a race against time as he looks to return in time for the Easter weekend double header against Oxford United and Stoke City.
Leeds coped well without both Struijk and Rothwell during Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Middlesbrough. How Farke’s table-toppers fare without the speed and finishing of Dan James, however, is a different question altogether.
Daniel Farke provides Dan James and Pascal Struijk update for Leeds United
Much to the delight of former Leeds coach Neil Warnock, Dan James tapped in Manor Solomon’s cross to secure the Yorkshire giants only a second win in seven Championship matches last time out.
It was also the Wales international who secured a point at Luton with a stunning left-footed curler from distance.
Leeds will need another of their talented array of forwards to step up in James’ absence when Preston come to town, however; Farke announcing a hamstring injury which will keep the 12-goal winger on the sidelines for at least one of the season’s final five games.
“Joe Rothwell is out with injury. Dan James as well, he came out with some hamstring problems so this will rule him out definitely for the game at the weekend,” Farke sights. “A tight race for the Easter weekend.
“Obviously, we will try everything to make him available for these games but it will be tight.”
Farke says that teenager Sam Chambers is unavailable too due to illness.
Determined to see the positives, however, the former Norwich City coach is relieved to learn that Struijk will not require surgery on a fracture that will consign him to another two-and-a-half months of recovery. As such, the Ajax academy graduate should be ready to go again from the start of pre-season.
“Today, I can officially confirm that the season is over for him,” Farke said. “It is a fracture in his foot. Thank God, he doesn’t need surgery but he will definitely be out for about ten weeks.
“So, he will just be ready when pre-season starts but he won’t play a game this season anymore. That’s obviously bad news.”
Farke shares Patrick Bamford plan ahead of Preston North End clash
Leeds do have Patrick Bamford back for the run-in.
With Joel Piroe goalless in his last seven games – and after Bamford impressed against Middlesbrough and Luton off the bench – Farke is not ruling out a first start of the entire Championship season for his experienced number nine even if his minutes do have to be managed meticulously.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LeedsLeeds | 41 | 24 | 13 | 4 | 80 | 28 | 52 | 85 |
| 2 |  BurnleyBurnley | 41 | 23 | 16 | 2 | 55 | 12 | 43 | 85 |
| 3 |  Sheff UtdSheffield Utd | 41 | 26 | 7 | 8 | 56 | 31 | 25 | 83 |
| 4 |  SunderlandSunderland | 41 | 21 | 13 | 7 | 57 | 37 | 20 | 76 |
“We have to be careful with the load with Patrick,” Farke explains. “I liked his last performances a lot, coming from the bench. Really, really strong. But its not a question of his quality or his experience.
“He has to be fit, and this is what he is right now. But we have to be careful because, just six days ago, he played his first minutes of 2025. We can’t risk that he is out with another injury because we need him for the upcoming four games.
“So, we will see. But he is in good spirits.”
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