Leeds have dealt with injury as a ‘very important’ star will miss the West Ham game

Leeds United suffered an injury while preparing for their final Premier League game against West Ham.

For Leeds, Sunday’s trip to the London Stadium is a dead rubber.

14th place in the table, safe from the middle of the month, and there is nothing left to play for but to be proud of the job and finish the campaign.

Daniel Farke can make a change, rest the players, and start thinking about next season.

For West Ham, it couldn’t be more different.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are in 18th place with 36 points, two behind Tottenham in 17th place, and need a win while hoping for Spurs to lose at home to Everton in the other first leg at 3pm.

The odds were heavily stacked against them – Tottenham’s goal difference advantage meant even a one-point draw for De Zerbi’s side would be enough – but stranger things happened on the final day.

West Ham will throw everything into this game because they have no choice.

It’s the kind of game that can catch the visiting team cold.

Leeds have nothing riding on the result, the atmosphere will be fierce, and West Ham’s desperation could make them dangerous opponents.

Farke will want to be effective, and he will want to avoid injuries to key players ahead of what promises to be an important summer of recruitment.

Anton Stach will miss West Ham v Leeds through injury

Anton Stach, the 27-year-old German midfielder who has been one of Leeds’ best performers this season, will miss the game after suffering a cut that requires stitches.

Speaking before the game, Farke gave a measured but reassuring update.

A minor inconvenience rather than a real concern.

Stach is one of the signings of the season in the Premier League, arriving from Hoffenheim last July and establishing himself as a midfielder for Leeds.

Five goals and three assists from a central defensive position in his first 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 the solidity in the middle of the park that they lacked last time in the top flight.

Despite his status as Leeds’ ‘most important’ star, Stach unfortunately missed out on Germany’s 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 gap on Sunday.

None of them will replicate what Stach delivers, but in one afternoon, they don’t have to.