Leeds United's injury crisis throughout the 2021/22 campaign has rendered them less effective than their buccaneering return to Premier League football last season.
Despite the several simultaneous issues suffered week-to-week, Leeds have managed to steer themselves clear of any real danger at the foot of the table.
Currently positioned 15th, but crucially seven points clear of the drop, the club are hoping for a more consistent upturn in results when players return to the fold.
The severity of Leeds' injury troubles throughout this season is outlined in the accompanying image below.
The Whites have missed Robin Koch, Patrick Bamford, Luke Ayling, Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper for extended, often overlapping periods.
German international Koch missed 16 league games in succession following the season opener at Manchester United, while Patrick Bamford has largely been unavailable since late September.
In total, the Whites' 20-man senior squad has missed a collective 90 league matches between them this season. This averages out at just over four games per player.
Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper both picked up hamstring injuries in the 2-2 draw with Brentford back in December, but have made a return to outdoor training this week, as pictures emerged of the pair at Thorp Arch.
Leeds have not had a full senior squad to pick from in any of their 21 Premier League matchdays so far this season.
13 of those 21 outings have seen the Whites missing four or more players - representing a healthy 62% of the campaign.
To not currently be mired in relegation trouble is nothing short of astonishing given the repeated injuries to key players and routine absences for peripheral members of the squad.
Leeds have been without five or more players due to injury, suspension or COVID in nine of their Premier League games this season, including each of their last six fixtures, dating back to December 11, 2021.
Given the fact Marcelo Bielsa prefers to keep a thin squad, five or more absences in multiple fixtures has left Leeds with fewer than 15 senior players for practically half of this season.
Next week's visit to Aston Villa could offer a welcome reprieve with Charlie Cresswell, Kalvin Phillips and club captain Liam Cooper back in training this week.
While Villa Park may come too soon for that particular trio given the length of their absences, Adam Forshaw is expected to be back fit following a recent hamstring injury suffered away to West Ham United.
