Leeds United Contend With Injury Concerns Ahead of Crystal Palace Fixture
Key Takeaways
- •Leeds head into the September 20 fixture unbeaten under Daniel Farke after defeating Newcastle 4-1 at Elland Road on September 14.
- •Le will be missing Harry Wilson with a quadriceps strain, Joe Rodon with a hamstring issue, and Mateo Joseph with a knee problem.
- •Ilia Gruev has returned to contention after completing nearly 90 minutes with the under-21s in his recovery from a long-term knee injury, giving Leeds added midfield depth.
- •Crystal Palace are without goalkeeper Dean Henderson, striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, and Chadi Riad, and Axel Disasi is serving a three-match suspension after a red card against Ipswich on September 12.
- •Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah are fitness doubts for Palace, with their availability potentially not confirmed until the teams are announced.
Leeds United will be without at least three players when they host Crystal Palace on September 20, though the visitors arrive with an even longer injury list. The match kicks off at 14:00 BST at Elland Road, where Leeds' most recent outing — a 4-1 demolition of Newcastle on September 14 — set the tone for what the home crowd now expects from Daniel Farke's unbeaten side. That gap in availability is one of the defining storylines of the fixture, shaping the selection options open to both dugouts.
Leeds Missing Three, but Gruev Returns
Harry Wilson is sidelined with a quadriceps strain, Joe Rodon is nursing a hamstring issue, and Mateo Joseph is unavailable due to a knee problem.
There is better news in midfield: Ilia Gruev is back in contention after completing nearly 90 minutes with the under-21s as part of his recovery from a long-term knee injury. Farke has acknowledged that Gruev's availability adds meaningful depth to the squad, and whether he starts or is eased back from the bench is one of the home side's main selection questions. His return restores a midfield option that has been absent throughout his long-term recovery.
Palace's Injury Crisis Is a Different Animal Entirely
Palace's absences are more extensive — and they strike at the spine of the team. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson is out with a foot or ankle injury, while striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is sidelined by a hamstring problem. Chadi Riad is dealing with a season-long knee injury. Axel Disasi received a red card against Ipswich on September 12, earning himself a three-match suspension — leaving Pierre Sage to reconstruct his backline without two of his central defensive options simultaneously.
Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah are also listed as doubts, which could strip Palace of two more attacking players. If both miss out alongside Mateta, Sage will be working with a severely depleted forward line — against a team that just put four past Newcastle. Their availability may not be confirmed until the teams are announced, and Sage's eventual team sheet will show how far a squad already missing a goalkeeper, a striker and two central defenders is being stretched.
