Leeds United squad revealed for Cardiff City Championship opener amid injury crisis

Daniel Farke’s Leeds United squad is down to the bare bones ahead of this weekend’s Championship curtain raiser against Cardiff City with a number of key players ruled out. Patrick Bamford, Georginio Rutter and Mateo Joseph have all picked up knocks in the last week and will miss the start of the season.

It leaves Farke with Joe Gelhardt and Sonny Perkins as options to lead the line but the Whites’ injury problems don’t stop there. Jack Harrison, Tyler Adams, Junior Firpo and Sam Greenwood are all still sidelined while Farke refused to set a comeback date for Stuart Dallas.

Despite the injury problems and lack of incoming signings, Leeds remain among the favourites to win promotion back to the Premier League. Their three-year tenure in the top flight ended in a disappointing fashion but Farke has a brilliant track record in the second tier.

The new Whites boss was somewhat frustrated to have just 16 players in first-team training ahead of the clash with the Bluebirds at Elland Road on Sunday. Cody Drameh could return to the squad for this weekend after missing the tail end of pre-season while Farke has three goalkeepers fit for selection.

Leeds United squad to face Cardiff City: Illan Meslier, Karl Darlow, Kristoffer Klaesson, Luke Ayling, Charlie Cresswell, Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk, Leo Hjelde, Cody Drameh; Ethan Ampadu, Crysencio Summerville, Jamie Shackleton, Darko Gyabi, Dan James, Archie Gray, Luis Sinisterra, Ian Poveda, Sonny Perkins, Joe Gelhardt, Willy Gnonto.