“Area of Concern”: BBC Pundit Explains Why He’s Worried About Leeds Following This Week’s Events

Daniel Farke’s Leeds United find themselves in a tough spot as they prepare to face Sunderland, one of the division’s early pace-setters, at an inopportune time despite their own strong recent form.

Leeds have gathered seven points from their last three matches and remain unbeaten in away games, but they are up against a Sunderland side that has won all their home fixtures without conceding a single goal this season.

Jobe Bellingham acknowledges that Sunderland still aspire to reach Leeds’ level, yet Farke will have to contend with a severely depleted squad when they visit the Stadium of Light.

Isaac Schmidt, among Leeds’ five absentees, is the only player with a chance of returning for Friday night’s match.

This injury list grew longer with the recent injury of Ilia Gruev during Leeds’ victory at Carrow Road.

Commentator Jobi McAnuff, on the latest episode of BBC’s 72+ Podcast, raised concerns about Leeds’ midfield depth.

Gruev’s injury came at a particularly challenging time for Leeds, following the news that Ethan Ampadu will be out for the next 10 weeks due to a knee ligament injury.

Ampadu had been a crucial player for Leeds since his arrival from Chelsea in July 2023, having started every league game and playing a key role in both midfield and defense.

In his analysis, McAnuff highlighted the potential struggle Leeds could face without Ampadu and Gruev.

He stated, “Especially in that midfield area, which is where Ampadu has been playing this season, losing him and Gruev is going to be a real concern for Leeds.

Given that the team also lost Kamara and Archie Gray over the summer, the midfield is now one area where injuries are stretching the squad thin.

It will be interesting to see how they handle this situation in the coming weeks.”

With Gruev and Ampadu out, Ao Tanaka was tasked with playing a more defensive role in the match against Norwich, positioned just in front of the back four.

Tanaka was initially brought in to play a more advanced role, but he now finds himself stepping into a deeper midfield position.

He will be partnered with Joe Rothwell, who will likely have more freedom to push forward in the midfield.

Rothwell, who has had limited minutes since joining Leeds, acknowledged the lack of playing time after the Norwich game.

However, with Ampadu and Gruev unavailable, this is his opportunity to prove his value to the team.

Leeds will still have plenty of technical quality in the middle with Rothwell and Tanaka, but the defensive aspect of their midfield play will be a concern.

As Leeds head into their match against Sunderland, the combination of injuries and positional adjustments could significantly impact their performance, particularly in midfield.

The next few weeks will be crucial for Farke’s team as they navigate through this injury crisis while facing strong opponents in the Championship.