Leeds United have made an unbeaten start to the Premier League season, but the next stretch of fixtures should give us a much clearer idea of just how far Daniel Farke’s side have come.
The Whites have picked up nine points from their opening five games and have given themselves an excellent platform to build from. Their early form has already sparked talk of a possible European push, while a top-half finish is becoming a realistic expectation for some supporters.
That optimism will be tested after the international break.
Leeds face a demanding run that includes trips to Arsenal and Sunderland, as well as a meeting with Manchester United. The visit to the Stadium of Light could be particularly intriguing, with the Black Cats outperforming the Whites last season.
Three very different challenges await Farke’s men, and their results during this period should better indicate whether Leeds can maintain their impressive start and compete consistently in the top half.
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Sunderland suffer double injury blow
The international break has not been kind for Sunderland so far, and a couple more weeks remain before league action returns.
Earlier this week, Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey was seen clutching his hamstring in the middle of the park and looked in severe pain while in action for the Netherlands.
It looks almost certain that the Dutchman will not recover in time to face Leeds on 25th October, and could be out for longer if the injury is more severe.
However, the news got worse for Sunderland when centre-back Dan Ballard also picked up a hamstring injury in action for Northern Ireland against Georgia.
The defender will undergo scans to determine the extent of the injury, but a hamstring problem means he will almost certainly miss the Leeds clash at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland will be without two of their most important players at opposite ends of the pitch for the next few weeks or even months, and they are almost certain to miss the Leeds clash.
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The Dominic Calvert-Lewin worry for Leeds United
Leeds United have taken a cautious approach with Dominic Calvert-Lewin since his arrival, carefully managing both his training and minutes to reduce the risk of another setback.
Given the striker’s previous injury problems, the club’s medical staff have been particularly mindful of his workload and deserve credit for helping him stay available. Leeds’s difficulty is that their control over his fitness disappeared when he joined the England camp.
That is bound to concern Daniel Farke, especially with Calvert-Lewin now 29 and playing such an important role in the team. Leeds simply do not have another forward who offers the same quality and experience, making any injury picked up on international duty potentially costly for the Whites.
