Leeds United will be without winger Dan James for Saturday's Premier League match at Arsenal, manager Daniel Farke has confirmed. James sustained a back injury while on international duty with Wales.
The Gunners host Leeds in their first league game after the extended international break. The past three weeks have brought new injury concerns for Leeds, with James picking up the problem while representing his country.
Rodon and James ruled out
Joe Rodon, another Wales international, will also miss the trip to north London. He has returned to individual training after a lay-off but is not yet ready to rejoin the squad.
Farke said: "Joe (Rodon) is on his way back in his rehab making good progress. He has already had individual sessions on the pitch but it will be a bit until he is back in team training."
"Also, Daniel James will miss the Arsenal game, so he is out with a back injury. He came back with this back injury, more or less, from his national team and for that he is not available for this game."
Wilson and Bahoya updates
Harry Wilson, a third Welshman in the squad, has returned to training after a muscle injury but may not be fit enough to feature. Farke said Wilson has been back in team training since Tuesday and could be available, depending on how his body reacts.
Jean-Mattéo Bahoya has recovered from an ankle strain, Farke also confirmed.
The absences are setbacks for Farke. Wilson has made a bright start to life at Leeds since joining from Fulham, while James has started three of Leeds' five league matches this season.
Leeds' strong start
Leeds sit fifth in the Premier League, three points behind second-placed Arsenal. They are one of five teams still unbeaten in the league, alongside Manchester City, Brentford, Liverpool and Everton.
Farke insisted Leeds' strong start is not down to chance. "It's not coincidence that in the last 10-11 months we are the fifth best team in the Premier League in terms of points," he said.
"We haven't won the lottery to be in fifth, it's not a coincidence that we are unbeaten after a very impressive start to the Premier League."
Leeds face a tough test at the Emirates, against an Arsenal side that could include a well-rested Declan Rice and the fit-again trio of Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie.
