Joe Rodon injury latest revealed as Leeds hope for double boost against Sunderland | OneFootball

Former Tottenham defender was forced off late in weekend defeat by Manchester City at Elland Road

Leeds boss Daniel Farke expects Joe Rodon to be available for the upcoming Premier League clash with Sunderland.

However, the Wales international suffered a knock against Manchester City on Saturday evening and was replaced by Jaka Bijol for the closing stages of a narrow 1-0 home defeat sealed by a late first-half goal from Antoine Semenyo.

Before sitting out matches against Liverpool and Manchester United in early January with an ankle ligament injury sustained in an initial 1-1 draw with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, the usually ever-present Rodon had not missed a single league game for Leeds since October 2023.

“He had some problems with his hamstring, it was not clear in the beginning if it was just cramp or a light injury,” Farke said of the former Tottenham and Swansea centre-back at his pre-match press conference on Monday.

“We have assessed and scanned him and it seems like he will be okay, so I expect him to be available for tomorrow. It looks okay.”

Leeds hope that Rodon’s fellow defender James Justin will be in contention for the visit of Sunderland to Yorkshire after he also went off late against City and needed treatment after the game.

“The only little question mark after the last game was James Justin because there was a straight leg against him,” Farke said.

“He needed to be stitched after the game because he was full of blood. But he is also a tough boy. I also hope that he is available for tomorrow.”

If Rodon and Justin are both passed fit, then Noah Okafor will be Leeds’ only absentee against Sunderland as the Swiss forward continues to recover from a hamstring injury suffered in the FA Cup contest against Birmingham last month.

Okafor, an £18million summer signing from AC Milan, was ruled out for a period of between two to four weeks and played no part either against City or in the preceding 1-1 draw away at Aston Villa.

“So as it stands, I expect just Noah Okafor to be out for this game and all the others will be available,” Farke added.