Leeds United now have Christmas week off ahead of a Sunday return to Premier League action at Sunderland - for which blows have left nine players out and three more as doubts.
Leeds and Sunderland both played their final games before Christmas on Saturday, the Black Cats taking in the long trip to Brighton and leaving with a point after a goalless draw.
With the Africa Cup of Nations getting underway, the point was all the more commendable given a raft of absentees which will also be the case for Sunday afternoon’s visit of Leeds to the Stadium of Light.
Leeds themselves though, fresh from Saturday’s brilliant 4-1 win at home to Crystal Palace, also have key men missing, all leading to a combined total of nine players being out and three more doubtful for Sunday’s 2pm kick-off between the Black Cats and Whites.
Here, we run through the early injury and team news from both camps which includes another player now being back.
7. OUT: Noah Sadiki
Defensive midfielder Sadiki was another player heavily linked with a move to Leeds in the summer before joining the Black Cats from Union SG for around £15m. The 21-year-old will play no part against Leeds, though, due to being one of two Sunderland players away with the DR Congo team at AFCON. | Getty Images
8. OUT: Arthur Masuaku
Another summer signing - from Besiktas - 32-year-old left back Masuaku is also away with the DR Congo team at AFCON, joining club mate Sadiki. | Getty Images
9. OUT: Bertrand Traore
Yet another summer window signing - from Ajax - experienced 30-year-old forward Traore is another Black Cats player away at AFCON - in his case with Burkina Faso. | Getty Images
10. OUT: Reinildo Mandava
Completing the sextet of Sunderland players away at AFCON, left back Reinaldo, a summer signing from Atletico Madrid, is part of the Mozambique squad. | Getty Images
11. OUT: Dan James
Whites winger James suffered a hamstring tendon injury in the 3-2 defeat at Manchester City at the end of November and it was feared the Wales international star might need surgery. Farke revealed last week that James did not need to go under the knife but that he was still looking at around eight weeks out in total. | Getty Images
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12. OUT: Sean Longstaff
Whites midfielder Longstaff suffered a calf injury in November's 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa which preceded the City clash. Longstaff was thought to be looking at four to six weeks out. Speaking at Thursday's pre-Palace press conference, Farke said: "Sean is progressing in his rehab and doing individual stuff on the pitch, running stuff and with the ball. The first step will be to reintegrated to team training. It will last a bit. We decide from day to day and game to game." Farke confirmed on Tuesday that there was no chance Longstaff would be involved against Sunderland. | Getty Images