Daniel Farke has shared a fresh injury update ahead of Leeds United’s clash with Southampton on Saturday.
The Whites head into their final day clash at Elland Road with the faintest of hopes of still finishing in the top two, but know it will take a minor miracle from elsewhere.
Farke’s side sit three points adrift of Ipswich Town with just a game to spare and know that in order to finish second, the Tractor Boys will have to lose at home to all but relegated Huddersfield Town, and beat Southampton.
Following such a dismal display in the 4-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers last time out, Farke may be tempted to make some changes this weekend.
However, that could depend on who he is back available in his squad, as he was missing a few key players in the capital that will be pushing to be back fit on Saturday.
Farke shares brand new injury update on Patrick Bamford
Patrick Bamford, Connor Roberts, Dan James, Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas were all absent at QPR.
Farke had been hopeful Bamford would make it last week but with the game being on Friday, he had considerably less recovery time than if it was a normal game week.
And Farke has provided a brand new update on the £7m man’s fitness in his latest pre-match press conference, but it does not look too promising.
While Farke is hopeful he could be back to play some minutes, Bamford has not taken part in full training at all this week and may not be back.
He said: “Big question behind Bamford, no full training yet. We still have hopes with a late decision he is perhaps available. Not sure how many minutes.”
Farke has to start Joseph for Leeds now
If Bamford is not fit enough to start, there is simply only one man who can come into replace him, and it certainly isn’t Joel Piroe.
Piroe was really poor at QPR last time out when he was handed a start up front on his own, and showed again he is not cut out for that role.
With that in mind, Mateo Joseph simply has to be the one to start so he can show what he can do ahead of the play-offs.
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