Leeds’ Rodon out 10 weeks: Farke’s defensive crisis deepens

Daniel Farke faces another defensive headache after Joe Rodon’s hamstring injury sidelines the Wales international for between eight and ten weeks. The Leeds United manager confirmed the setback on Tuesday, just days after his side fought out a 1-1 draw at Brentford in which Rodon lasted only 34 minutes. With the Premier League’s toughest run of fixtures looming, Farke’s reshuffle must begin immediately.

A squad already stretched thin

Leeds’ injury list now reads like a who’s who of defensive options. Rodon’s exit follows Gabriel Gudmundsson’s pre-season hamstring strain and Stuart Dallas’s long-term absence, leaving Farke with fewer than a dozen outfield players fully fit. The January window suddenly looks less like a luxury and more like a necessity, especially after Farke admitted the club may need to convert James Justin from wing-back to centre-half. “Puts more pressure on us to get a wing-back,” Farke told BBC Sport. “We may need James Justin at centre-back.”

That tactical pivot would force Justin, a right-back by trade, into an unfamiliar role at the heart of Farke’s back three. It also risks weakening Leeds’ attacking balance, where Justin’s overlapping runs have been a key outlet. The club’s recent deadline-day signing, Melvin Bard, offers cover at left-back but does little to address the central-defence void left by Rodon’s absence. Farke’s plea for “a bit of luck” feels less like optimism and more like a plea for reinforcements before the international break.

Wales’ Nations League headache

Rodon’s injury is not just a club problem. Wales manager Rob Page now scrambles to reshuffle his defensive spine ahead of two away Nations League games against Portugal on 24 September and Denmark on 27 September. The 28-year-old’s absence also disrupts Leeds’ own rhythm, as Rodon started both the season-opening win at Nottingham Forest and the Carabao Cup victory over the same opposition. Farke’s side travel to Brighton on Saturday knowing every point will matter, and every defensive error could prove costly.

Wales’ next fixtures—Portugal on 24 September and Denmark on 27 September—come during the Premier League’s international break, a scheduling quirk that complicates Farke’s planning. If Rodon’s recovery timeline holds, he could miss up to four competitive matches for club and country in the space of a month. Farke’s frustration is understandable: “A big blow for us because he’s a key player.”

Tactical reshuffle or emergency surgery?

Farke’s preferred back three relies on Rodon’s composure under pressure and his ability to step into midfield to relieve build-up play. Without him, the manager must choose between two imperfect fixes: an inexperienced reshuffle or a January signing. The latter option would echo Leeds’ summer approach, when they signed Melvin Bard to bolster their left-back options. A similar move in defence would at least buy Farke time to assess his options.

Yet even with reinforcements, Leeds’ defensive structure looks fragile. Their backline has already conceded late goals in two of their last three league matches, and the upcoming run—including trips to Brighton and Manchester United—demands a settled, battle-hardened unit. Farke’s comments suggest he is leaning toward internal solutions first, but the clock is ticking. Leeds’ next two fixtures—a league trip to Forest and a League Cup tie—will test whether their reshuffled defence can hold firm.

One potential wildcard is Robin Koch, who has started only sporadically since his £8.5m switch from Gladbach. Koch’s arrival was billed as a statement of intent, but so far he has struggled to dislodge the established trio of Liam Cooper, Stuart McKinstry, and Pascal Struijk. If Farke turns to Koch as Rodon’s replacement, the German’s form will come under intense scrutiny.

Farke’s window to react

The next eight weeks will define Leeds’ season. A poor start to the campaign—three points from their opening three games—already hints at deeper issues, and Rodon’s absence compounds them. Farke’s plea for “a bit of luck” is understandable, but luck rarely arrives without preparation. The January transfer window remains Leeds’ best chance to steady the ship, yet the market’s defensive options may already be picked clean.

For now, Farke must navigate a gauntlet of fixtures with a backline in flux. His next move could be the difference between a season of struggle and one of survival. Rodon’s return cannot come soon enough, but in football, patience is a luxury few managers can afford.