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EPL Anton Stach, left, and Joe Rodon, centre, challenge for the ball with Everton's Iliman Ndiaye in January Matt Mc Nulty/Getty Images Reaching their first FA Cup semi-final in 39 years was a stressful experience for Leeds United supporters. As the 9, 000 visitors meandered away from the London Stadium on Sunday, arms over shoulders, singing of Wembley, there was as much relief as excitement in the air. They had been tortured. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 75th-minute penalty was supposed to have been the clincher. Leeds had seen out the 90 minutes of normal time with a two-goal margin. The collapse in stoppage time, then West Ham United’s disallowed goals in extra time and Joel Piroe’s saved opening penalty in the shootout, had just about snuffed out any remaining hope. Advertisement Now that the emotion of the adventure has settled, there is time to pick through the wreckage of such a demanding afternoon. United progressed, but their supporters are holding their collective breath on the status of Joe Rodon and Anton Stach, two undisputed pillars of Daniel Farke’s team. The manager will speak on Thursday, before Monday’s trip to Manchester United, and fingers have been crossed on their injury details. As of Sunday evening, Rodon and Stach each rolled an ankle and would need to be assessed. “Thank god, there is a bit of time until we have to play the next game, ” Farke said in his post-match press conference as he reflected on Rodon’s injury. “With Anton, he was hit against his ankle. He rolled it and probably has a ligament injury. “We have to assess how bad it is. He was running the whole game in the beginning and was so crucial. “It was a major setback to lose him during this first half. He’s a key player. ” Stach went off in the 38th minute and was later seen wearing a protective boot while he used crutches to get around. A few hours after full time, he posted an image of a severely swollen ankle on Instagram. Rodon, meanwhile, was not seen with any mobility aids after going off in the 52nd minute. He was walking around under his own steam as he watched the end of the game with his team-mates. The season ends in a little over six weeks. Leeds have seven Premier League matches to play and at least one FA Cup game too. A prolonged lay-off for either Rodon or Stach would rule them out completely. They are two of Farke’s most important players. Nobody has registered more league minutes for Leeds than Rodon (2, 545) this term. He and Stach are two of the seven players in their ‘peak years’ (24 to 29) who have been on the pitch for more than 75 per cent of United’s league minutes. As the graphic above shows, Rodon and Stach perfectly illustrate the club’s pre-season aim to have as many players as possible at the sweet spot in their career trajectory. Their losses would be felt. Advertisement Rodon’s fitness has contributed to his reliability and his versatility has shone through Farke’s various systems. Since arriving from Tottenham Hotspur, initially on loan in 2023, Rodon had generally played as the right-sided centre-back in a four-man back line. However, since United’s pivot to a five-man defence at Manchester City in late November, Rodon has become even more valuable. Not only was he trusted to play on the left in Pascal Struijk’s absence at Chelsea in February, but his ability to play high and wide on the right has been crucial, too. The maps above show the left-sided position he took on at Stamford Bridge but in those most recent four league games, he’s looked like a right-winger at times. Sunderland and Brentford sat off more in their trips to Elland Road, inviting Rodon to advance even further up the right flank. Rodon helps the team to spread, giving better passing angles inside to goalkeeper Karl Darlow or Jaka Bijol, while unleashing Jayden Bogle or James Justin to attack even more freely as wing-backs. In the above GIF, you can see how Rodon interacts with Bogle and Ethan Ampadu. Despite playing as a centre-back, he pivots around them before attacking the Brentford box, even feeding Brenden Aaronson in a dangerous position before the move breaks down. Stach’s versatility has also been important. He has been deployed as a conventional central midfielder, alongside Ampadu, or as a more advanced attacking midfielder, as one of the two who often play behind Calvert-Lewin. While the data shows his starting position, above, has most frequently been in the middle, the heat map to the right shows how Stach takes many of his touches down the left channel. The graphic below underlines Stach’s all-action approach. The 6ft 4in (193cm) midfielder has the work-rate and stamina to get around the pitch, married to the strength and aggression to break up play and win the ball back. The shading is, however, noticeably darker on the left side of the field. In the image below, you can see what Stach can bring to the midfield role he plays. He has that natural ability to help in attack and defence. Even before Struijk has received this pass against Brentford, Stach has started his burst from deep, attacking the space. Advertisement Struijk moves the ball wider and then picks out Stach’s run. The midfielder then skilfully uses the back of his head to nod the ball down for Bogle inside him, providing a platform in the box for the Leeds attack. This was one of the rare moments United broke through Brentford’s disciplined lines. Stach’s importance to the Leeds press is evident below, too. As Omar Alderete retreats to receive a pass for Sunderland, Stach chases from deep. You can see the distance the 27-year-old makes up on the defender. Not only does he have the energy and intent to apply that pressure, but Stach’s strength and size are so crucial in ultimately turning the ball over. In the fourth slide, you see the crucial moment he holds Alderete off, which then allows him to make that dangerous pass to Calvert-Lewin. If this pair were missing for several games, the most damaging loss for Leeds would be their set-piece link-up. No Premier League team have been as reliant as Leeds on set pieces (35. 1 per cent) as a share of their total goals this season. Furthermore, only Bruno Fernandes has created more chances from set pieces (35) than Stach’s 33 in the Premier League this season. Rodon has taken eight shots directly following corner deliveries, with only four players (Marc Guehi, 14, Struijk, 13, Maxence Lacroix, 10 and Virgil van Dijk, nine) registering more. Their link is best summed up by Rodon’s disallowed ‘goal’ against Sunderland last month. Stach delivers the ball perfectly to the back post, where the centre-back has arrived, from a marginally offside position, to thunder a header home. If Stach and Rodon are ruled out, Farke will have to respond. The key factor in defence would be Gabriel Gudmundsson’s fitness. The Sweden left-back started both of his country’s World Cup play-off games during the international break, but then missed Sunday’s win at West Ham. The club said he had a minor groin problem, which was not worth risking. Advertisement If he does return, Justin’s emergence as a reliable option this season will again pay dividends. Five first-choice options had become clear for Farke in that expanded back line but since New Year’s Day, Justin ability to plug gaps has been priceless. At Old Trafford, for example, Justin could play as the right-sided centre-back if Gudmundsson returns at left wing-back. Justin, a natural full-back, can provide the width and progression Rodon offers, even if he cannot match the Wales international’s dominance in the air. If aerial prowess is valued, Sebastiaan Bornauw is an alternative, but he looks less comfortable on the ball when Leeds are building out from the back. The Belgian is behind Justin in the pecking order and may only start if Rodon and another defender are missing at the same time. There is more flexibility in midfield if Stach is absent. Much depends on the profile of player Farke would want alongside captain Ampadu. Ao Tanaka was given the nod in east London on Sunday and impressed. The Japan international started and finished the move that put Leeds in front, with style, energy and determination. However, Tanaka has only started in the league seven times this season, the most recent of which was on December 28. Ilia Gruev had started the majority of Leeds’ matches in 2026 before missing out on the last two in the league. Farke would likely see him as the safe and solid choice, and his technical ability was illustrated when assisting Bogle against Nottingham Forest. However, he’s often limited to tackling and making safer passes to others. Sean Longstaff was another regular in Farke’s XI but he has only started twice, both in the cup, since injury struck in November. He has the set-piece ability to cover for Stach’s absence, delivering the corners for both of Rodon’s goals this season. Longstaff also has bite in his tackling and the ability to drive the team, but is badly lacking match sharpness. Farke’s decision in the engine room would have a knock-on effect in the advanced positions, too. Noah Okafor’s return to fitness is well-timed, allowing the manager to retain Aaronson in the starting line-up. Advertisement In those roles behind Calvert-Lewin, Lukas Nmecha has looked far more effective as the No 9’s partner rather than his supplier, and Wilfried Gnonto has failed to turn Farke’s head at any stage this season. If Stach and Rodon miss the Manchester United trip, Gudmundsson looks likely to come in at the back, but there is not an obvious way to reshuffle the various combinations upfield. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle