Daniel Farke says 23-year-old could actually be fit for Leeds vs Hull City on Monday
Daniel Farke provided an update on the fitness of some of his injured players after Leeds United’s 2-2 draw at Watford last night.
It is fair to say the international break was not kind to Leeds in the slightest as three key members of the squad returned with injuries and were therefore unavailable at Vicarage Road.
Leeds were already without both Stuart Dallas and Pascal Struijk anyway, but Junior Firpo and Georginio Rutter were also fitness doubts heading into the game.
Firpo was unable to start having only returned home from the Dominican Republic’s match at Peru yesterday, and while Rutter was in the XI, he had literally only just recovered from surgery.
However, it was three players returning from representing their respective countries with injuries that will have left Farke pulling his hair out.
Farke says 23-year-old could actually be fit for Leeds vs Hull City on Monday
Willy Gnonto, Ilia Gruev and Connor Roberts were all absent from Leeds’ squad last night, and in his post-match press conference, he has provided an update on them.
Both Gnonto and Roberts are set to be out for the next three weeks with hamstring and thigh issues respectively, meaning they could now only be available for the last three matches.
Farke, though, was unable to provide an accurate timescale on when Gruev could return, but did offer hope that it might be on Monday.
He says it is impossible to know until the swelling goes down, but has not completely ruled him out in any case.
He said: “Gnonto at least three weeks with a hamstring issue. Perhaps earlier if he does well, but realistically it’s three weeks perhaps a few days more. More or less the same for Roberts. Gruev has a chance for Monday, but need to see the swelling. Willy and Connor out for Monday.”
Gruev fitness paramount to Leeds’ chances
Gruev’s absence was probably the most hard felt of them all as it saw Farke make a complete reshuffle to his back four which did not work in the slightest.
Farke decided to break up the partnership of Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon at centre-back that have conceded just three goals in 12 matches together, none of which were from open play.
Liam Cooper was simply unable to step up and fill that role, with Leeds conceding two alone in the first half from open play, the second of which he was at fault for.
Gruev’s return would enable Leeds to move Ampadu back, while still having a proper holding midfielder, as well as two from Firpo, Archie Gray and Sam Byram in the full-back spots.
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