Leeds United striker Mateo Joseph could be thrust into the firing line against Cardiff City under Daniel Farke, with forward duo Georginio Rutter and Patrick Bamford both forced off with injury last weekend.

Leeds’ Championship campaign gets underway in front of the Sky cameras this Sunday against Cardiff City, with Daniel Farke hoping his side can get off to a winning start.

He has injury issues in his camp already though to contend with, as key attackers look doubtful for the Elland Road opener.

Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter injury updates

A friendly against Hearts on Sunday saw Leeds come out 1-0 winners, but there was concern in either half with Georginio Rutter forced off with injury first, before his replacement Patrick Bamford suffered a similar fate.

Neither could finish the game, with Farke saying this about Rutter post-match (via Leeds Live):

“[It’s] a muscle injury in his core. We hope it’s not too bad. We have to wait for the assessment. It’s too early to say something, but a core muscle injury.”

Bamford looked to take a blow to the head initially as he tumbled to the ground, but closer inspection saw him clutch his hamstring as he fell to the ground, as Farke added:

“Yes, it seems to be like a hamstring injury. It’s more or less the same. We have to wait for the assessment. So he’s felt that something happened after the sprint and now we have to wait for the assessment.”

Mateo Joseph to step up?

The most obvious solution for Leeds to their injury issues in attack this month is to go out and sign a new striker, something that was on the agenda anyway at Elland Road.

However, that new signing isn’t likely to be in the doors for Cardiff, meaning that 19-year-old Mateo Joseph could be called upon, given he replaced Bamford in the 81st minute at Tynecastle.

He took to Instagram on Tuesday evening to share his eagerness to showcase his talent for the 23/24 campaign:

If Rutter and Bamford aren’t fit for the game, then it’s a good job we have a very talented striker in Joseph that looks to be ready to go.

It’s not ideal to have such a situation at the start of the season, but you would expect that the club are relaxed about both the fitness of these two, and then signing someone to help out the depth here.

We need a striker regardless, but this serves as a new reminder that we cannot go into this season without more cover up top.