SHOCKING NEWS:Daniel Farke reveals the return of former Ex-player suddenly

If there is any team capable of rolling with the punches and keeping the momentum going in the face of a few injury blows, it is Daniel Farke’s Leeds United.

Max Wober is already absent until after the March international break.

Daniel Farke expressed concerns over Mateo Joseph’s fitness after the striker rolled his ankle in lat week’s 1-1 draw at home to West Brom.

Most worryingly of all, Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu faces a race against time to be involved in the run-in after picking up an untimely knee injury which – according to the manager – is likely to keep him off the training pitch until mid-to-late April.

Fortunately, the strength in depth at Leeds United’s disposal is arguably the biggest advantage they hold over their promotion rivals.

Joe Rothwell has only started one of the last five Championship matches but the Bournemouth loanee would stroll into most XIs at this level.

As former Leeds midfielder David Prutton is keen to point out, with Ilya Gruev and the aforementioned Ampadu both missing for long spells on the other side of Christmas, Rothwell and Ao Tanaka formed a pretty imperious partnership at the heart of Farke’s engine room.

And Prutton sees no reason why – with Ampadu on the sidelines again – such success cannot be repeated.

Joe Rothwell backed to step up as Leeds United lose Ethan Ampadu

“We talked earlier in the season about [Ampadu] being out and then suddenly you get Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka looking like one of the best midfield partnerships in the division,” Prutton, who spent three years at Elland Road from 2007 to 2010, tells the Yorkshire Evening Post

“Obviously Tanaka’s journey has been a bit different but Joe is a very good player.

“I’m sure he didn’t come