What Leicester City's win over Southampton means for Leeds United in Championship promotion race

Leicester City thrashed Southampton 5-0 on Wednesday to all but end the Saints' hopes of automatic promotion this season.

Goals from Abdul Fatawu, Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy saw the Foxes edge closer to a return to the Premier League. Enzo Maresca's side are now five points clear of third-placed Ipswich Town and four clear of Leeds United in second.

Southampton's unlikely route to automatic promotion would now require them to win their remaining two fixtures and hope Leeds lose both of theirs while overturning the Whites' superior goal difference. Both teams play each other on the final day of the season, with Daniel Farke's side currently having a goal difference of plus 43 compared to the Saints' plus 24.

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Leeds will know, though, that their hopes of automatic promotion are out of their hands, with third-placed Ipswich just a point behind with a game in hand. The Whites are next in action at Queens Park Rangers on Friday.

And Farke's team have been dealt an injury blow ahead of their trip to Loftus Road, with winger Dan James suffering a costal cartilage injury and an oblique abdominal muscle tear during Monday’s 4-3 victory over Middlesbrough.

A statement from the club said: “Leeds United can confirm winger Dan James suffered a costal cartilage injury and an oblique abdominal muscle tear during Monday’s 4-3 Championship victory over Middlesbrough at Riverside Stadium. As a result, the 26-year-old will be unavailable for Friday’s trip to Loftus Road, where the Whites take on Queens Park Rangers.”