Leeds will be without pacey forward Dan James when they face Arsenal this weekend, while the playmaker Harry Wilson is a doubt.

The Gunners host Daniel Farke’s Lilywhites in their first league match back after the extended international break.

The past three weeks have handed Leeds some new casualties, though, with James picking up a back injury while representing Wales.

Also absent is his countryman Joe Rodon, who has returned to individual training after a lay-off but will not travel to north London.

“Joe (Rodon) is on his way back in his rehab making good progress,” Farke explained. “He has already had individual sessions on the pitch but it will be a bit until he is back in team training.

“Also, Daniel James will miss the Arsenal game, so he is out with a back injury. He came back with this back injury, more or less, from his national team and for that he is not available for this game.”

Harry Wilson, a third Welshman, has also returned to training after shaking off an injury, but Farke has said he may not yet be fit enough to play.

Farke elaborated: “Also some good news with Harry Wilson after his muscle injury – he is back in team training since Tuesday. Again, we also have to wait right now how his body reacts but there is also a chance for him to be available going into this game.”

He also confirmed Jean-Mattéo Bahoya has recovered from an ankle strain.

The absentees are definite setbacks for Farke. Wilson has made a bright start to life in Yorkshire since leaving Fulham, while James has started three of Leeds’ five league matches so far.

Leeds come into the match sitting fifth in the Premier League, just three points shy of second-placed Arsenal. They are one of five teams in the table yet to lose a match, joining Manchester City, Brentfod, Liverpool and Everton.

Farke is insistent Leeds' impressive start to the campaign is not down to chance.

"It's not coincidence that in the last 10-11 months we are the fifth best team in the Premier League in terms of points.

“We haven't won the lottery to be in fifth, it's not a coincidence that we are unbeaten after a very impressive start to the Premier League."

He will face a tricky test at the Emirates, facing an Arsenal side which could feature a well-rested Declan Rice and the fit-again trio of Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie.