Leeds United remain six points clear of the relegation zone despite suffering a 1-0 defeat at home against Manchester City on Saturday.
West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham also lost their respective games during the weekend, which kept Leeds 15th in the Premier League table.
Leeds are now set to host Sunderland at Elland Road, but have already suffered a blow as Daniel Farke will be serving a touchline ban after getting red-carded at the end of the Manchester City clash.
However, the Whites could be without another huge player on Tuesday night as a fresh injury blow is threatening to impact the team against Sunderland at Elland Road.
Joe Rodon is a major doubt after picking up a hamstring problem
The Welsh defender has been one of the most durable players for Leeds since he arrived at the club in the summer of 2023 and has been a constant in the backline.
However, he could miss the Sunderland clash on Tuesday night after he picked up a hamstring problem in the 1-0 defeat at home against Manchester City.
Rodon was forced off the pitch after 87 minutes, and Leeds assistant manager Eddie Riemer confirmed the problem for the Welsh centre-back.
Leeds will assess his situation, and the club hope that the injury is not too serious, which could allow him to return to the team as soon as possible.
Riemer told reporters after the game: “I think it’s his hamstring.
“We need to assess him; hopefully, it’s not too serious.”
The Sunderland game is big for the Whites
Seeing Sunderland above Leeds in the Premier League table has been a source of frustration for supporters, especially when you think about just how big the gap between the two sides was in the Championship not so long ago.
Leeds even went to the Stadium of Light earlier in the season and controlled large parts of the game, but had to settle for a 1–1 draw despite their dominance.
Sunderland vs Leeds United – Match Stats (December) 
| Sunderland | Stat | Leeds United |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Shots | 17 |
| 1 | Shots on Target | 5 |
| 42% | Possession | 58% |
| 389 | Passes | 490 |
| 81% | Pass Accuracy | 86% |
| 7 | Fouls | 9 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 4 | Offsides | 3 |
| 3 | Corners | 9 |
Now, there’s a real opportunity to close that gap and perhaps even overtake the Black Cats before the campaign draws to a close.
It does feel like Sunderland have probably done enough to steer clear of a full-blown relegation battle, but their current injury problems could yet see them limping over the line rather than finishing strongly.
If Leeds can reel them in and finish above them, it would be a clear sign of progress this season, even if staying up remains the overriding priority.
