Joe Rodon has put his head in where it hurts during what he describes as 'the maddest season ever' on loan at Leeds United.

The uncompromising Tottenham defender has the scars to prove it too, but now he is aiming to help Daniel Farke's men finish the job by winning today's Championship play-off final.

Victory over Southampton at Wembley would complete an outstanding campaign for Rodon, who has formed a formidable central defensive partnership with Leeds captain and Wales team-mate Ethan Ampadu.

The Yorkshire club missed out on automatic promotion, winning just one of their last six league games, but Rodon has not taken a backward step all season.

The heavily tattooed 26-year-old relishes the physical side of the game and has sustained some nasty facial injuries.

Joe Rodon certainly isn't afraid to get stuck in as he aims to guide Leeds back to the top-flight

'But I love defending and pride myself on clean sheets,' he tells Mail Sport.

'I obviously don't want these kind of injuries too often, but the Championship is very physical and I don't think people realise how tough it is.

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'Every team offers a different challenge and I've said to myself in certain situations "you've got to be willing to get hurt".

'Sometimes that can be the difference and prevent the opposition scoring.'

When Leeds won 3-0 at Millwall last September, Rodon earned praise from Farke for his 'warrior mentality' after playing on with a cut above his eye.

Then came an accidental head clash with team-mate Junior Firpo in the return fixture against Millwall in March which left him sporting a stunning shiner.

'Yes, Millwall away in particular was a nasty one,' adds Rodon.

'That was the worst because I had literally a big gash but also a big lump on my face which swelled up.

'I had another one at Sheffield Wednesday, it was a little cut but the scar's still there.

'I've had a few head clashes too – Millwall at home was a bit of a rough one. But it's just part of being a centre-back.'

Rodon progressed through the ranks at hometown club Swansea before being sent on loan to Cheltenham Town in League Two in the second half of 2017/18.

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He made 12 appearances under Gary Johnson and recalls: 'I knew I had to learn how to play men's football.

'It wasn't successful – but in my head it was. I needed to do it.'

A return to Swansea followed their relegation from the Premier League and Graham Potter's appointment as manager.

'Graham gave me an opportunity and luckily it went well – I haven't looked back since,' says Rodon.

After catching the eye for Swansea and Wales, he was signed by then Spurs Jose Mourinho for £11million in October 2020.

Having failed to establish himself as a regular at Tottenham, though, Rodon spent time on loan at French Ligue 1 outfit Rennes last term as they qualified for the Europa League.

He says: 'That was a completely new experience for me in a different country with a different language.

'It was difficult, but I made some great friends there and played in some important games to help Rennes finish fourth, which was a nice ending for me.'

When new Leeds boss Farke offered Rodon the lure of a promotion challenge last August, he took it.

Did he speak to Ange Postecoglou before heading to Yorkshire?

Rodon, who has a year remaining on his Spurs contract, admits: 'Not really. I didn't communicate a lot on that side.

'I'm a big boy and I'm not going to dwell on things.

'I knew that the best thing for me was to be playing every week.

'Things developed at the back end of the transfer window last summer and I'd played against the boss' Norwich team a few times.

'I felt his style of football was always going to benefit me and how I like to play.

'Of course Leeds being Leeds, it's a massive club and I just knew it was a big opportunity.

'It's probably been the maddest season ever, but I've loved every minute of it.'

Connor Roberts arrived on loan from Burnley in January to join Wales team-mates Rodon, Ampadu and Dan James at Elland Road.

All four were involved when Wales lost to Poland on penalties in their Euro 2024 play-off in March.

Ampadu, signed from Chelsea last summer, began the season in midfield alongside rising star Archie Gray but was then moved alongside Rodon following injury to Pascal Struijk.

'Ethan and I have played together quite a lot for Wales and spend plenty of time together off the pitch, so I think having that natural feeling of playing together was always going to help,' says Rodon.

'But it's not just about us; it's been a great team effort and we're in a fantastic position now.'

Rodon is coy about next season amid talk he could sign for Leeds permanently.

'It would be nice to have stability and know where I am next season,' he admits.

'I've always strived to get to the elite level and hopefully I can get back there with Leeds, but you never know what can happen in football.

'I don't want to look too far into the future, although I do love it here and Leeds feels like a second home to me now.

'I'm just concentrating on giving my best and getting this club back to where it belongs.

'That has been my motivation all year and now we're one game from achieving our dream.'