Leeds United: Daniel Farke has wildcard solution to Dan James issue: View | OneFootball

Leeds Unitedare just two games away from finding out whether they will earn an immediate return to the Premier League via automatic promotion, or through the play-offs.

The Lilywhites kick off this weekend's Championship action as they travel to Queens Park Rangers on Friday evening, with the hosts knowing that a victory over Daniel Farke's side will secure their second tier status for next season.

While it promises to be a tough encounter for the visitors, it was made even more difficult following confirmation that they will be without one of their key players for the trip to W12 after picking up an injury against Middlesbrough in midweek.

Dan James injury update ahead of trip to Loftus Road

Despte picking up an important victory at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday evening, for Leeds, it came with a cost.

The club confirmed on Tuesday that attacker Dan James had suffered a costal cartilage injury and an oblique abdominal muscle tear on Teesside, meaning he would miss their penultimate fixture of the campaign.

Throughout the season, the Welsh international has proved to be one of their most important players as they look to return to the top flight at the first time of asking, providing 20 goal involvements in all competitions this term and forming a great partnership in the forward areas with Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Joel Piroe.

But along with James' absence, Farke will also be without striker, Patrick Bamford, with the Leeds boss confirming via the club's social media page, which could be the opportunity one player has craved this season having been reduced to just eight league appearances so far this term.

Joe Gelhardt could be an option for Daniel Farke

It has been a difficult season for 21-year-old, Joe Gelhardt, having played just 352 minutes of football under Daniel Farke, with his last appearance for the club coming back in February when he was introduced as a late substitute away to Plymouth Argyle.

His subsequent lack of game time saw the former Wigan Athletic forward linked with a move away from Elland Road during the January transfer window, with it reported that both Celtic and Rangers were keen on a loan move for Gelhardt.

But this update and Leeds' attacking options heading into the final two games of the season is perhaps the window of opportunity the youngster needs to grasp with both hands to get himself back into the first-team picture.

While not a natural replacement for James in the wide areas, it is likely to be Jaidon Anthony as the player tasked with filling the gap left by the Welsh international.

However, Gelhardt offers an alternative option on that side should Farke choose to go with a potential wildcard option for the trip to Loftus Road. As shown previously in his Leeds career, the 21-year-old can play on the right and tends to cut inside onto his left-foot, with his pace and directness also likely to cause Cifuentes' side problems during the contest.

Along with this, Gelhardt has proved in previous campaigns he has the ability to step up at the business end of the season, most notoriously during their Premier League survival campaign in 2021/22.

He scored a last minute winner against fellow relegation rivals, Norwich City, which sparked wild scenes inside Elland Road, earning Jesse Marsch his first win in charge and moving the Lilywhites clear of the bottom three.

And those memories will bring a determination back into the veins of Gelhardt heading into the encounter with QPR.

He would love to do nothing more than recreate those scenes with the Leeds supporters and help contribute to a potential return to the Premier League next season, having taken a back seat for the majority of the campaign.

It could prove pivotal not only for his future at the club, but potential suitors as the summer transfer window edges ever closer.