Leeds United have been dealt an injury blow heading into their Premier League final day clash with West Ham.
For Leeds, Sunday’s trip to the London Stadium is a dead rubber.
14th in the table, safe since the middle of the month, and with nothing left to play for beyond professional pride and a clean finish to the campaign.
Daniel Farke can rotate, rest players, and start thinking about next season.
For West Ham, it could not be more different.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are 18th on 36 points, two behind Tottenham in 17th, and need to win while hoping Spurs lose at home to Everton in the other 3pm kick-off.
The odds are stacked heavily against them — Tottenham’s goal difference advantage means even a one-point haul for De Zerbi’s side would be enough — but stranger things have happened on the final day.
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West Ham will throw everything at this game because they have no choice.
It is the kind of fixture that can catch a visiting team cold.
Leeds have nothing riding on the result, the atmosphere will be intense, and West Ham’s desperation could make them dangerous opponents.
Farke will want a professional performance, and he will want to avoid injuries to key players ahead of what promises to be an important summer of recruitment.
Anton Stach set to miss West Ham v Leeds through injury
Anton Stach, the 27-year-old German midfielder who has been one of Leeds’ most impressive performers this season, will miss the game after picking up a wound that requires stitching.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Farke gave an update that was measured but reassuring.
“So bad news that he is not available for this game,” he explained.
“Good news is it is not a major injury. He just needs to be stitched anyhow. And if the game would be next Wednesday or Thursday, he would be available.
“So it is not a major injury. Just for this game, it is not possible. He will definitely miss this game.”
It is a minor inconvenience rather than a genuine concern.
Stach has been one of the signings of the season in the Premier League, arriving from Hoffenheim last July and establishing himself immediately as the anchor of Leeds’ midfield.
Five goals and three assists from a defensive midfield position in his debut English campaign is an excellent return, and his composure on the ball, physical presence at 6ft 4in, and tactical intelligence have given Farke’s side a solidity in the centre of the park that they lacked last time around in the top flight.
Despite his status as a ‘very important‘ star for Leeds, Stach has unfortunately missed out on the Germany squad for this summer’s World Cup, but at least he should be back fit, firing and ready to go for pre-season.
Leeds will look to Ilia Gruev, Ao Tanaka or Sean Longstaff to fill the void on Sunday.
None of them will replicate exactly what Stach brings, but for one afternoon, they do not need to.
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