No Championship club have had more players away on international duty than Leeds United over the last week-and-a-half.
No fewer than 12 members of Daniel Farke’s first team squad have jetted off across the world to represent their respective countries, with the final five in action over the course of tonight.
With that in mind, Leeds could not have asked for a much tougher assignment to return back to than a clash with fellow promotion favourites Burnley at Saturday lunchtime.
Leeds will need to be right at it from the very off at Elland Road, which is not always easy to do after a broken week of training, and players returning at different times.
With that in mind, here is a look at how Leeds fared in all of their four matches that came directly after international breaks last season.
Millwall 0-3 Leeds – September 17
This was the first game in which everything finally seemed to click into place under Farke, winning comfortably at an away ground they have had problems in the past.
Leeds were actually relatively lucky over the international break which came before this game, with only three members of the starting XI going away with their country.
Those were Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Wilfried Gnonto, and so it is no surprise Leeds were able to race out of the blocks in this one.
Norwich City 2-3 Leeds – October 21
Though this was another win, it certainly took Leeds some time to get going at Carrow Road as they went in at half-time trailing 2-0.
This was likely due to the fact almost half the team had been away, including at the time 17-year-old Archie Gray, who Farke was disappointed at how he had been managed.
The hero of Leeds’ comeback in Norfolk was undoubtedly Crysencio Summerville, who scored two beauties. Unsurprisingly, he had not been away over that break and was clearly fresher than most.
Rotherham United 1-1 Leeds – November 24
This was arguably one of the most disappointing nights of Leeds’ season as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a side who finished miles adrift at the bottom.
However, considering the scheduling of the fixture, it should not have come as much of a surprise. This time, six members of the starting XI had just been away on international duty, half of which had just played a vital Euro 2025 qualifier only 72 hours earlier (Welsh contingent).
Georginio Rutter was only barely passed fit to play after returning from France U21s duty with an injury.
Despite taking the lead in South Yorkshire, Leeds were unbelievably leggy on the night and could quite easily have been embarrassed but for a brilliant Liam Cooper defensive clearance.
Watford 2-2 Leeds – March 29
Another fixture that was scheduled for a Friday on the back of an international break was Leeds’ trip to Watford, in which they were lucky to escape with a point.
Once again, Leeds’ Welsh trio had been in action just three days earlier, but this time in a Euro 2025 play-off final, which they lost on penalties because of Dan James’ miss from the spot.
Leeds were so poor that night at Vicarage Road and only escaped with a point because of Mateo Joseph’s late equaliser.
Ethan Ampadu produced arguably his worst display in a Leeds shirt, while Junior Firpo was only fit enough for the bench having only been in action for Dominican Republic less than two days earlier all the way over in Peru.
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