Leeds United will head into the final game of the Premier League season without one of their most important players after Daniel Farke confirmed Anton Stach is unavailable for the trip to West Ham.
The Whites travel to London with little pressure on their shoulders after already securing survival earlier this month.
Leeds have enjoyed a strong finish to the season and comfortably moved clear of the relegation zone after an impressive unbeaten run.
But while Leeds can relax slightly, the situation for West Ham is completely different.
The Hammers are still fighting for survival and know they must beat Leeds if they want any chance of staying in the Premier League.
That means Elland Road’s final happy mood will quickly be replaced by a tense atmosphere at the London Stadium this weekend.
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Anton Stach ruled out for Leeds United
The biggest team news for Leeds is the absence of Anton Stach.
The German midfielder has become one of the key figures in Daniel Farke’s side this season, but he will miss the West Ham clash after suffering an injury that requires stitches.
Thankfully for Leeds supporters, the issue is not believed to be serious long-term.
Daniel Farke explained that the midfielder would likely have been available if the match had been played later in the week, but the timing means he cannot recover in time for Sunday’s game.
That will still come as disappointing news for Leeds fans because Stach has been excellent since arriving from Hoffenheim last summer.
Stach became a huge player under Daniel Farke
When Leeds signed Anton Stach, many supporters were unsure how quickly he would settle into Premier League football.
But the 27-year-old quickly proved himself.
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The midfielder brought calmness, strength, and leadership into the middle of the pitch.
His physical presence helped Leeds become much stronger defensively, while his passing and movement also improved the team going forward.
Despite playing in a deeper role, Stach still managed five goals and three assists during his first season in England.
That is an impressive return for a defensive midfielder.
At 6ft 4in, he also gave Leeds extra power in difficult games. Farke trusted him heavily throughout the campaign, and many supporters now see him as one of the best signings made by the club in recent years.
Leeds likely to rotate against West Ham
Because Leeds is already safe, Daniel Farke may decide to make several changes for the final match of the season.
Players such as Ilia Gruev, Ao Tanaka, and Sean Longstaff could all be given bigger roles against West Ham.
None of them brings the same qualities as Stach, but Leeds still has enough experience to compete strongly.
Farke will mainly want a professional performance and no further injuries ahead of what is expected to be a very busy summer transfer window.
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West Ham fighting for Premier League survival
While Leeds can already start planning for next season, West Ham is still under massive pressure.
The Hammers sit inside the relegation zone and need results elsewhere to go their way. They also need to beat Leeds themselves to keep their hopes alive.
That desperation could make them dangerous opponents.
The London Stadium atmosphere is expected to be intense because West Ham supporters know this could be one of the biggest games the club has faced in years.
Leeds may not have anything major riding on the result, but Farke will still expect his players to stay focused and competitive.
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Leeds is ending the season in a strong position
Even with the Stach injury setback, Leeds United can still feel proud about how they finished the season.
Many pundits expected the club to struggle badly after promotion, but Farke managed to build a much stronger and more organised side as the campaign progressed.
The tactical switch to a back-three system changed the season completely and helped Leeds become far more difficult to beat.
Now, attention slowly turns towards the summer.
Leeds fans know improvements are still needed if the club wants to avoid another relegation battle next season. But with survival secured and smart recruitment expected, there is growing optimism around Elland Road again.
For now, though, the focus remains on finishing the campaign properly against a desperate West Ham side.
Even without Anton Stach, Leeds will want to end the season with another positive result before attention fully shifts towards the future.
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