Leeds Rocked by James Injury Blow in Promotion Pursuit

The promotion dreams of Leeds United have been dealt a significant blow as the club confirmed that key winger Dan James will be sidelined with a rib and abdominal injury. The Welsh international, who has been a vital cog in the Whites’ push for an immediate return to the Premier League, sustained the setback during their dramatic 4-3 victory over Middlesbrough on Monday.

In an official statement, Leeds United revealed that James had suffered a “costal cartilage injury and an oblique abdominal muscle tear” in the pulsating clash at the Riverside Stadium. As a result, the 26-year-old will be unavailable for their crucial Championship fixture against Queens Park Rangers on Friday, as the Yorkshire outfit look to maintain their slender advantage in the race for automatic promotion.

James has been a pivotal figure for Daniel Farke’s side this season, making over 40 appearances and contributing 13 goals and seven assists. His pace, trickery, and goal-scoring prowess have been instrumental in Leeds’ bid to secure an immediate return to the top flight following their relegation last term.

However, the injury to the former Manchester United man could not have come at a worse time for the Elland Road outfit. With just two games remaining in the Championship season, Leeds find themselves clinging to a one-point lead over Ipswich Town, who have a game in hand. This precarious position means that Farke’s men no longer control their own destiny in the quest for automatic promotion.

The recent run of results has only added to the tension around Elland Road. After a remarkable unbeaten streak that stretched from late December to early April, Leeds have stumbled in recent weeks, losing to Blackburn Rovers and Coventry City. While they managed to get back on track with the hard-fought victory over Middlesbrough, the injury to James has cast a pall over their promotion aspirations.

The absence of the Welsh winger will be keenly felt, as Leeds prepare for a potentially season-defining clash against QPR at Loftus Road. Farke will be hoping that his squad can dig deep and find the resilience and quality to cope without their talisman, as the prospect of missing out on automatic promotion and facing the lottery of the play-offs looms large.

In addition to James, Leeds will also be without the services of fellow Welshman Connor Roberts for the QPR game, as the defender continues to recover from a muscle injury sustained during the international break. However, there is a glimmer of hope that Roberts could be available for the final game of the season against fourth-placed Southampton.

The injury woes have mounted for Leeds, with Pascal Struijk already ruled out for an extended period after undergoing groin surgery for an issue that has plagued him since Boxing Day.

As the Championship season reaches its climax, the pressure is well and truly on for Leeds United. With their automatic promotion hopes hanging by a thread, Farke and his players must summon every ounce of resilience and quality to navigate this latest setback and secure their return to the promised land of the Premier League.