Leeds United defender injury update ahead of Liverpool visit after Sunderland blow

Leeds United defender Joe Rodon will be unavailable for league action for the first time since he signed from Tottenham Hotspur due to an injury sustained at Sunderland.

Rodon appeared to turn his ankle in two separate challenges at the Stadium of Light during what was a bruising first half for the defender. Neither of the tackles resulted in a free-kick for Leeds or a card for the Sunderland player involved, but the second ultimately ended Rodon's evening.

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Slow motion replays showed the Welshman's leg bend in an unnatural fashion. Though he attempted to play on, the centre-half had to be replaced before the game restarted following Sunderland's opening goal. Rodon is expected to miss around three weeks of action starting with the game at Liverpool.

What Daniel Farke said about Joe Rodon injury

"Yes he will definitely miss Liverpool," said Farke. "The diagnosis is better than what we were fearing, the assessment is an ankle ligament injury. He will be out around three weeks. We still have a bit of hope, normally he's a good healer. Hopefully there's a chance to involve him a bit before but it's realistic that he'll miss the FA Cup game."

Another of Farke's Welsh internationals Dan James is also rehabbing an injury. The winger did not require an operation on his damaged hamstring tendon but was expected to be out for around eight weeks, with a January return possible.

Sean Longstaff is Farke's other longer-term absentee. The game against Aston Villa on November 23 was his last action for Leeds due to a calf problem. But there are no other new problems in the squad ahead of the New Year's Day trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.

"No new injuries," said Farke. "Our long-term injuries, Dan James and Sean Longstaff, need a bit more time to recover so no news."

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