Leeds United will give an update on Ethan Ampadu’s injury setback today but the situation doesn’t sound good.

Daniel Farke fears the Whites could be without the midfielder for an extended period as he undergoes surgery on a knee cartilage injury. "It is pretty clear he will need surgery in the upcoming days,” confirmed Farke added after the win over Sheffield United.

The victory at Bramall Lane was dramatic and the impact of the three points should not be downplayed, but few will say the performance was exemplary. Leeds lacked control in midfield amid Ampadu’s absence until Joe Rothwell came on 13 minutes after the break.

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That it is a different knee to the one Ampadu injured earlier this season is very unlucky and also, in the words of Farke, a big blow. The captain will be absent for the next few matches and perhaps longer depending on what the diagnosis is confirmed as.

While Leeds have coped fine without Ampadu in midfield before, his unavailability prompts a nervous situation in defence. Max Wober has struggled with his own knee issues and had to undergo surgery for a second time this season a few weeks ago.

The defender is not due back until after the March international break. Behind the first-choice duo of Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon, that leaves few esteemed options.

Josuha Guilavogui has the ability to play in the role although looked very out of sorts at centre-half against League Two outfit Harrogate Town in January’s third round FA Cup tie. James Debayo is another option but has only made two cameo appearances from the bench.

The fact is, United are one more injury away from a defensive headache. This came as a reminder when Struijk was felled early on against Sheffield United, leaving him on the deck for a while.

Rodon has meanwhile started every Championship game, which is a phenomenal feat but also increases the risk of injury. To his credit, the Welshman has a very healthy injury record and has been extremely reliable in that regard, so is perhaps a risk worth taking.

Strujik, on the other hand, has sustained at least one issue in the past four seasons, including his groin injury that ruled him out of the second half of last term. Centre-back was one area Farke said he was considering bolstering in the winter amid Struijk’s hamstring setback in January.

Of course, no option ultimately met his high transfer bar of being affordable, of good quality and of great character. With four centre-back choices, Leeds were in a position to justify that they had enough to see the season through.

It is a stroke of misfortune that Ampadu has picked up a second significant setback and Wober has hardly been ready for prolonged action for much of the season, having sustained injury while on international duty. A finger of blame can hardly be pointed.

Farke is, though, banking on Rodon and Struijk staying fit until at least the other side of the international break, when Wober is due to return. Although, how fit the Austrian will be upon his return remains ambiguous.

The good news is that Leeds are a possession-dominant team and are the top scorers in the division by some 16 goals. The goalless draw with Burnley was the only league game in which they failed to net more than once across their last nine fixtures.

And furthermore, after West Brom on Saturday, Leeds do not play a top seven club in their final 11 matches of the season.

So if the worst scenario does happen, Leeds are in a good position to cope. But nevertheless, Thursday’s diagnosis on Ampadu will nevertheless be significant for the run-in period.