Djed Spence: Leeds boss Danie Farke says 'nothing major' led to full-back's exit

Spurs signed Djed Spence from Middlesbrough in 2022

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke says that "nothing major" caused the unexpected end to Djed Spence's loan spell at the club.

Spence, 23, has returned to parent club Tottenham Hotspur after making seven appearances for the West Yorkshire side.

The right-back was originally signed on a season-long loan in August.

On the reasons behind Spence's departure, Farke said: "Nothing major, we decided after the new year's game."

Farke added to BBC Radio Leeds: "We analysed the first half of the season, especially the impressions made over the festive period.

"Obviously, when you make decisions in January it's not a short-term decision.

"We wanted to take the impressions of the festive period into account and share thoughts and discuss things.

"We came to the conclusion that we will end the loan for Djed [Spence], and he will return back to Tottenham.

"We are grateful for his time here and wish him all the best at Tottenham because he is a player of great potential and he's a cool guy with a really good heart."

On Sunday, Leeds visit League One Peterborough in the third round of the FA Cup.

Despite the loss of Spence, and Sam Byram being sidelined through injury, Farke does not feel the need to panic over finding a potential replacement.

"We were successful in the first 18 games when we had to play without Djed because sadly he had a long-term injury which kept him out for nearly eight and a half weeks.

"We were capable to find some good solutions in order to be successful, so there is no emergency."

Leeds have only progressed past the third round once in the last six campaigns, and that was last season when they reached the fifth round before defeat by Fulham.