Leeds United return to Championship action after an international break at Watford.
The Whites have a lot of players abroad with their countries for the next week or so, and Daniel Farke will be hoping they all return healthy ahead of matches against Watford and Hull City.
Leeds moved to the top of the Championship for the first time this season after defeating Millwall 2-0 on Sunday, a position Leicester City had held for nearly the whole season.
Leeds were actually 17 points behind Leicester at the start of the year, but a run of 12 wins in 13 league games has worried Foxes supporting pundit Gary Lineker and kept the likes of Conor Coady on edge.
Though Leeds will enter the next round of matches in first place, they might tumble to third before travelling to Vicarage Road, with Leicester and Ipswich Town both playing on Good Friday.
EFL analyst Adrian Clarke forecasts Leeds’ Easter points tally against Watford and Hull City.
On the most recent episode of the ‘What the EFL Podcast’, analyst Adrian Clarke predicted how many points Leeds would score over the Easter weekend.
As previously said, the first game is against Watford, who will be at home for the first time under interim manager Tom Cleverley, followed by a home game against play-off chasing Hull City at Elland Road.
On paper, they will both undoubtedly pose stern challenges for Leeds, but Clarke is trusting Farke’s side to come away with at least four points to continue their unbeaten run.
He stated: “The Easter fixtures don’t look too dreadful. Leeds United face Watford away and Hull at home, and I anticipate them to take at least four points. There is a good chance they may still be in first place by Easter, which is incredible given how much ahead Leicester was.
Rutter and Firpo fight to be available for Leeds.
Georginio Rutter and Junior Firpo have been vital players for Leeds during this remarkable run of form, but both face a battle to be fit for the Easter calendar, particularly against Watford.
Rutter underwent minor surgery on a hernia after playing despite pain for several weeks, but he might be back in 10 days. That indicates the Watford game will be very close.
Firpo, meanwhile, is overseas representing the Dominican Republic for the first time in his career, with their second encounter of the break coming place just two days before Watford, at 1.30am UK time in Peru.
Sam Byram appears to be a near-certainty to replace him, although Farke will hope both are available for the home encounter against Hull City.
