Leeds play host to struggling Sunderland on Saturday.
Paul Heckingbottom will be down to his bare bones in central midfield and at centre-back on Saturday afternoon as Leeds United play host to Sunderland in their latest Championship encounter.
Everton loanee Matthew Pennington suffered injury against Fulham last time out, as did Eunan O’Kane. They join centre-back Liam Cooper and maestro Adam Forshaw on the sidelines, leaving Heckingbottom with little to choose from.
Despite their injury woes, the Whites will still be expected to pick up three points against a Sunderland side they beat 2-0 at the Stadium of Light under Thomas Christiansen.
Chris Coleman’s side remain in the relegation zone and their Championship status hangs by a thread, with the Black Cats eight points behind former Leeds boss Garry Monk’s Birmingham City.
Heckingbottom did receive some good news ahead of the clash against the Wearside outfit on Saturday, and that was the return of £3million attacker Kemar Roofe who has missed the last seven games due to a muscle problem.
He joined in in training on Thursday and he could be thrown into the starting line-up with Caleb Ekuban and Pierre-Michel Lasogga struggling to impress. The 25-year-old has started just 22 league games this term, but he should start this weekend.
Kalvin Phillips replaced O’Kane on Tuesday night, and that is likely to be a change from the off while Gaetano Berardi is expected to replace Pennington at centre-back. It should see Stuart Dallas go to left-back, and Vurnon Anita come in on the right.
Here is how we think Leeds will line-up against Sunderland, with three changes made by Heckingbottom:
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