Leeds United have the difficult task of beating Sunderland on their mind but it is difficult to ignore the enormity of the next one, as Leeds face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on February 24.
Sheffield United have returned to first place in the Championship table after a 1-0 win away at Luton on Saturday with The Blades playing twice since Leeds last took to the field, beating Watford 4-0 on Tuesday.
Of course, Leeds have a game in hand now and that comes in the form of Sunderland at Elland Road on Monday night. A massive clash that sees first host fourth, that would normally be deemed a huge clash.
But it is not the biggest game of the month for Leeds. Indeed, first play second when Leeds go to Bramall Lane a week later and things have just got a whole lot harder for Leeds to beat Chris Wilder’s Blades.
Chris Wilder delivers Gustavo Hamer update after Luton win
Leeds fans will be well aware of Gustavo Hamer’s quality. The Brazil-born playmaker has had a had in 12 goals this season and Leeds made a £13m bid for Hamer’s services last summer, only for it to be rejected.
On Saturday, Hamer was missing after limping off the pitch during Wednesday night’s win over Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough. But after beating Luton, Wilder gave an update on Hamer and says he is fit.
“I was never in the mindframe of risking Gus today because of his fatigue in his hamstring,” Wilder told The Sheffield Star, after confirming that Hamer would be available when Leeds take on Sheffield United.
Chris Wilder also confirms two more Sheffield United returnees
Leeds have a near-clean bill of health with only Patrick Bamford and Max Wober out injured, the latter undergoing surgery on his knee. In terms of the first-team squad, Leeds are at their absolute strongest.
But Sheffield United’s injury crisis over the Christmas period is coming to a close, too. Indeed, Wilder also said that new striker Tom Cannon and target man Kieffer Moore will be fit to play against The Whites.
“All three will be available for next week. With Tom we just didn’t have enough time. If the game was 48 hours later and we were playing Monday or Tuesday then he’d have been fit but we made a decision.
“Kieffer’s had a week of work, we could have put him on the bench but we felt there was more benefit for him to have a full week’s training and then he’s got another eight days in the lead up to the Leeds game.”
With Moore, Cannon and Hamer fit for Sheffield United against Leeds, it has just made Leeds’ task of a win much harder. But this Leeds defence have kept six clean sheets in a row and will aim to continue that.
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