The busy festive period is over and Leeds United are top of the Championship. Saturday's dramatic 3-3 draw away to struggling Hull City saw their lead at the summit cut to one point.

But some perspective is needed following frustrating results against Blackburn Rovers and Hull. An eight-match unbeaten run has put the Whites in a strong position to achieve their objective of securing promotion back to the Premier League.

The January transfer window presents Daniel Farke with an opportunity to bring in reinforcements. A centre-back is believed to be on their shopping and fresh injuries Pascal Struijk and Patrick Bamford could force United into action.

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But Farke is not a big fan of the January window and has repeatedly said he expects a "quiet" month. "First of all I hope Pascal Struijk and Ilia Gruev and Patrick Bamford and Junior Firpo are not too far away to help us and join us, this helps us in general," said Farke. "But again it's not like we sign right now four 35-year-old guys for experience.

"We have decided to go with a pretty young group and to earn lots of money last summer and to stick to our young prospects and want to deliver them. But then you also have to accept that they're not steeled with 300 battles on Championship level.

“We have many players playing either their first games on Championship level or first or second season. We know in terms of responsibility, experience and consistency especially they're not the end products and sometimes there are mistakes.

"I would also prefer we cruise easily but this is also what I was expecting, that it will be a long road. We have to keep going developing individually and the whole squad. We've done pretty well, we're top of the league after a busy period, unbeaten for a while and on a really good path. But we don't win 20 in a row and cruise easily. If we do something in January I can guarantee already right now we will still have a relatively young squad, it will be a tight race to the end and we won't be perfect in each and every situation."

Next up for United is an FA Cup third round clash with Harrogate Town this weekend. Here is the latest from the Thorp Arch treatment room:

Pascal Struijk

The centre-back travelled with the rest of the squad to the MKM Stadium but was not risked by Farke due to an ankle problem. Club captain Ethan Ampadu started alongside Joe Rodon at the heart of their rearguard.

There is a strong possibility Farke will make wholesale changes for the Elland Road tie on Saturday. It feels like the perfect opportunity to rest Struijk and give him additional time to recover from his knock.

Possible squad return: Sheffield Wednesday (h) - January 19

Junior Firpo

The full-back sustained a hamstring injury early on in the 2-0 win over Derby County at the start of December and was replaced by Wober. Farke said Firpo, whose contract expires at the end of the season, would be out od action for four to six weeks.

What Farke said: "He's more or less in the final stages of his rehab. He's not in team training yet but I hope after the Hull game that he will return back to team training, perhaps even before the FA Cup game if everything works out before the upcoming days. It's looking good and pretty soon he will be back in team training."

Possible squad return: Sheffield Wednesday (h) - January 19

Ilia Gruev

The Bulgarian international has been absent from Leeds' matchday squad since the away draw with Norwich City back in October. The midfielder was forced off in the 20th minute after suffering a serious knee injury. Farke recently confirmed the 24-year-old has returned to team training.

Possible squad return: Late January

Patrick Bamford

The striker picked up a hamstring injury in the wake of United's home draw with Blackburn Rovers on New Year’s Day. He featured in the final 20 minutes of the Rovers clash as Farke's team were forced to settle for a point. Joe Gelhardt was drafted in to the matchday squad for the first time since late October against Hull.

Possible squad return: Unknown