Leeds United take on Norwich City on Tuesday night in their eighth Championship clash of the 2024-25 campaign and will have to do so without captain Ethan Ampadu.
Daniel Farke confirmed on Monday that Leeds will be without five first-team players for the trip to Carrow Road. Ampadu is joined by Dan James, Manor Solomon, Isaac Schmidt and Max Wober on the sidelines.
Farke said that Ampadu is likely to be sidelined until the new year after sustaining damage to his lateral knee ligament. While he will not require surgery, he will have to miss the next 10 weeks before training.
Meanwhile, Wober requires surgery on his knee which takes place today. Solomon (back), Schmidt (glute) and James (hamstring) will miss the clash which sees Leeds take on their play-off semi-final opponents.
But there is one ounce of good news and it comes in the form of a man that won’t be wearing a Leeds shirt on Tuesday night. Or in fact, a Norwich shirt. Indeed, it comes in the form of referee Stephen Martin.
Stephen Martin reffed Leeds United on four occasions last term
Martin was the man in the middle on four occasions for Leeds last season. He has proven to be a good omen for Leeds, with The Whites picking up 10 points from a possible 12 while Martin had the whistle.
What is interesting, is that Leeds did not concede a goal in the four games with Martin as a referee. A 0-0 draw against Hull came first, before a 4-0 home win over Ipswich Town at Elland Road in December.
Wilfried Gnonto scored a winner against Bristol City at Ashton Gate with Martin refereeing to win 1-0, and then his final appearance alongside Farke’s men came when Leeds eased to a 2-0 home win over Millwall.
Leeds form strong under Martin but he did send Whites player off
While Leeds might have picked up 10 points from 12 under Martin and secured four clean sheets in the four games with him as ref, he did send Joe Rodon off for two yellow cards against Hull in the 0-0 draw.
| Championship games reffed by Martin in 2023-24 | Yellows | Reds | Penalties awarded |
| 21 | 96 | 1 | 3 |
Leeds of course, faced Norwich on four occasions last season and similarly to the form under Martin, The Whites secured three wins and also drew 0-0 with Norwich in the first leg of the play-off semi-finals.
Leeds beat Norwich 3-2 away from home thanks to a Crysencio Summerville comeback, before winning 1-0 at Elland Road. Then, a 4-0 second-leg win to arguably the best atmosphere at Elland Road all season.
Farke will be confident his side can secure a fifth Championship win of the season and if results do go the way of Leeds, there is a chance that The Whites could sit at the top of the table come 10pm tonight.
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