Report: Daniel Farke includes ‘key’ player in Leeds squad for Sunderland match following injury recovery.
Leeds United poised to welcome back one of their injured players for the upcoming trip to Sunderland.
Daniel Farke’s squad has been hit hard by a series of injuries in recent weeks, with Ilia Gruev being the latest player sidelined.
Leeds United confirmed in an official statement on Thursday that Gruev is set to undergo surgery for a significant meniscus injury, which will keep him out for several months.
Ethan Ampadu is also set to miss the next 10 weeks, meaning Leeds have lost both of their first-choice midfielders in just four days.
In addition, Manor Solomon, Max Wober, Dan James, and Isaac Schmidt were all unavailable for Leeds’ 1-1 draw at Norwich City earlier this week.
As Leeds prepare to face Championship leaders Sunderland tonight, Farke has had to make tough decisions.
Sunderland have won all four of their home league matches this season without conceding, making it a challenging match for Leeds, especially with their ongoing injury crisis.
Despite the setbacks, Leeds will need to perform at their best to secure a victory.
Farke’s bench was notably weak in the draw against Norwich, but there is some positive news.
According to Leeds Live, Isaac Schmidt is expected to return to the squad after missing just one game due to a glute injury.
Farke had mentioned Schmidt’s potential return during his press conference, contingent on him coming through the final training session unscathed.
It appears that Schmidt has passed the test, providing crucial cover at full-back alongside Junior Firpo and Sam Byram.
As for the starting XI, Farke has limited options due to the injury situation, and the quick turnaround from Tuesday’s match gives little room for changes.
Leeds have used the same goalkeeper and back four in every league match so far, and that consistency is likely to continue at Sunderland.
With both Gruev and Ampadu sidelined for the long term, Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell are expected to step up and form a midfield partnership that will likely be relied upon for several matches.
Up front, Mateo Joseph, Wilfried Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson, and Largie Ramazani are all set to keep their places in the attacking lineup as Leeds aim to overcome their injury struggles and deliver a strong performance.
