Leeds United take on Paul Heckingbottom's Preston at Elland Road on Saturday, 12:30pm KO but it looks like we'll have to manage without our most influential player this season.
Dan James bagged our only goal at Middlesbrough on Tuesday night but limped off with a hamstring injury. The feeling is he won't be risked for the visit of PNE, so maybe Largi Ramazani will get his chance at long last? Farke has been openly critical of the Belgian wingers efforts in training and hopefully his man-management skills will get the £11m man firing on all cylinders.
Leeds are keeping very quiet re the extent of Pascal Struijk's foot injury, but in the very best case scenario the big Dutch defender was always going to miss this game. So I'll expect a Joe Roden/Ethan Ampadu pairing in central defence with Junior Firpo and Jaydyn Bogle on the flanks. Although Firpo was tactically withdrawn on 68 mins of our win at the Riverside in favour of Sam Byram.
I'd expect Ilia Gruev and Ao Tanaka to carry on in central midfield, although the Japanese international midfielder was reportedly emotional and crying tears of joy after Tuesday nights win! Farke could deploy Willie Gnoto on the left, right or number 10 but I feel he'll stick with Manor Solomon and Brendan Aaronsen.
Farke now has Patrick Bamford all fit and raring to go, so he could be tempted into resting Joel Piroe particularly as Bamford had the ball in the net having come on as sub, for it to be harshly and wrongfully ruled out but again I think he'll stick with Piroe.
I can't believe it's been seven years since Heckingbottom was at the helm here at Elland Road. It never seemed a good fit and onky lasted months. He did enjoy a promotion with Sheffield United but otherwise his post Leeds career has been a bit hit and miss.
Preston are currently in 16th, seven points clear of Cardiff who they drew 2-2 with on Tuesday night at home. Last Saturday they drew 1-1 at Deepdale with struggling Stoke and their last away game saw them lose 2-0 to Derby
Unfortunately Heckingbottom won't have Freddie Woodman who's out for the season. Bradley Potts is expected to be out as is Alistar McCann and Jack Whatmough. They'll also be without Sam Greenwood, remember him? Because he's on loan from us.
Whilst we won't be getting our old friends, Darren Williams the linesman who ruled out Tanakas perfect goal on Tuesday night as well as two other offences to be taken into consideration from earlier this season, we will be getting the same ref who took charge of the clash at Deepdale in December what finished 1-1. The nan in the middle will be John Busby, those of us with good memories will recall his failure to send off Ben Whiteman for a second yellow, after he scythed down Jaydyn Bogle just minutes after tripping up Brendan Aaronsen. Even Heckingbottom promptly subbed him after the second offence.
So another one for the conspiracy theorists to ponder I guess that the financial allure of Leeds United means we must remain in the EFL at all costs.
*incidentally Darren Williams is off to run the line at Wycombe v Stevenage on Saturday so pray for them both.