Leeds United will be tested after the international break, facing a tough run of fixtures, including a big clash against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light next month.
Daniel Farke’s side have made a solid start to their Premier League season, scoring nine points from their opening five games while remaining unbeaten.
Leeds are being tipped to fight for European spots, or at least finish in the top half of the Premier League table, because of their strong start.
However, their quality and resilience will face a huge test after the international break, when they take on Arsenal, Manchester United and Sunderland next month.
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Sunderland are almost certain to be without their talisman against Leeds
Leeds will have to face Arsenal and Manchester United before travelling to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland exactly a month from today.
But it is now almost certain that Sunderland will be without Brian Brobbey when they take on the Whites at home on 25th October.
The Dutch striker scored a hat-trick against Manchester City at the weekend, but has suffered a major injury blow on international duty with the Netherlands.
Brobbey has suffered a hamstring injury during the Netherlands’ Nations League match against Germany on Thursday night.
The injury didn’t look good as he lay clutching his hamstring in the middle of the pitch and had to be helped off.
While there is no confirmation of the injury’s severity, even a minor hamstring problem takes three to four weeks to recover from, and Brobbey looked in great pain.
It seems almost impossible that the striker will be back and ready to feature against Leeds in just over four weeks’ time after looking in that much pain on Thursday night.
Brian Brobbey, who scored a hat-trick for Sunderland against Manchester City on Sunday, suffered what appeared to be a hamstring injury in the Netherlands’ Nations League fixture against Germany. pic.twitter.com/uO1msPvJv3
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) September 24, 2026
Daniel Farke will have a silent prayer on his lips
Brobbey’s absence will seriously affect Sunderland’s ability to hurt teams in the final third, and Farke will likely not have to worry about him when he takes Leeds to the Stadium of Light.
However, Leeds boss will pray that he doesn’t suffer the same fate as Regis Le Bris, as some of his most important players are on international duty.
More than anything, the Germans will be praying Dominic Calvert-Lewin returns unscathed after featuring for England during the break.
Leeds have taken extra care to ensure the forward remains fit since joining the club, but these international breaks have often seen players breaking down.
Farke simply cannot afford to lose the 29-year-old as he doesn’t have another striker of that quality in his squad.
