Leeds United's 'Champions League' department not at fault over latest Daniel James injury

Despite being one of their key players, the Hull-born winger has started just four of Leeds' last 18 matches, although he also kicked off four of eight for Wales.

He suffered a hamstring injury in April, an ankle problem in September and will now miss Wednesday's visit of Chelsea with a hamstring tendon injury picked up at Manchester City on Saturday – his first Premier League start since August.

"It looks like we could (treat) it in a conservative way," said manager Farke. "That would mean that he will probably miss the next eight weeks. It could be worse with surgery but we hope that it's just this eight weeks."

James' latest setback comes after what his manager felt was the most disciplined spell he had seen from the 28-year-old and in spite of a medical department he rates as Champions League class.

"He has fought so hard to be back in his best shape," he said. “We were extra careful and gave him more and more minutes and got the feeling he is physically ready to play also longer than just 30 minutes.

"He worked so much in the last weeks to be back in his best shape. I've never seen him so disciplined in terms of preparation for training, after training, nutrition. He was on a top path to be back to his best.

"He was a bit heartbroken when he got this assessment. But there are worse things in life and you can also have worse injuries.

"I will allow him one or two days to be down and then to work hard in the rehab. We need him back as soon as possible.”

Farke is convinced his medical department cannot be to blame.

"Our record, especially in the last two years, is excellent especially in terms of muscle injuries,” he said. “If there's a hit during the game you can't do anything about it but I have to give many compliments to my sports science and medical department.

"In this department we are already ready for the Champions League. We have to step up a bit in the football point of view but our medical department is without doubt top class.”

Hamstring problems are particularly concerning for a player of James' explosive pace, but Farke sees it as an occupational hazard.

"Daniel is a special player, lightning quick, one of the quickest players in the whole of the UK and it comes to these players that they are quite often a bit more in danger of muscle injury,” he explained.

"But I can't tell him, 'You're just allowed to sprint at 70 per cent' because it's his biggest strength.

"This is not a muscle injury, it's a tendon injury, the muscle is completely fine, there's just a bit of a weakness. This is why we have to explore of surgery is needed.

"I was tempted to have him in the starting line-up before. We can't be more careful because this would mean leaving him in the garage and not bringing him onto the pitch any more. At some point it's necessary for him to start a game.

"I was quite happy he started two games for Wales (in November), two times 60 minutes. It's just very, very unlucky. We have to make sure he returns stronger."

James' injury could push Farke even harder in the direction of the 3-5-2 formation he switched to at half-time at Manchester City before his side turned a 2-0 deficit into 2-2 only for Phil Foden to win the game for the hosts in stoppage-time.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored and won the penalty Lukas Nmecha scored from at the second attempt was crucial, and Farke says he is fit to start for the first time since an adductor injury during the international break.

"Not the game before but at Man City I think he would have been able to start the game," said the German. "He was probably a bit annoyed that he didn't start the game – hopefully.

"But I wanted to be a bit extra careful given that he didn't have a proper pre-season with us.

"Apart from this little adductor injury, since he walked through the door he has joined us in every training session. I think he's physically top prepared and he put in a top-class performance in the second half (at Manchester City), outstanding.

"He doesn't have to play 90 minutes three times (in a week) because he was rested to the bench for 45 minutes in the first game. He looks after his body and his recovery so it's definitely possible for him to play many minutes.

"But we also have other options. Lukas is in red-hot goalscoring form (scoring in his last three games), Noak (Okafor) can also play (at centre-forward), Brenden (Aaronson) was rested in the last game, Joel Piroe is definitely a topic, Jack Harrison can play on the wing."

Anton Stach (concussion), Karl Darlow (adductor) and Sebastiaan Bornauw (knee) are fit after missing Saturday's game, albeit the latter pair are unlikely to force their way into the starting XI.