Are Leeds United's Walking Wounded Off on International Duty
01 Nov 2024 09:00 am, by Ellandback1
Good Morning. It's Friday 1st November, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road
Are the walking wounded off on International break
Call me sceptical, but Max Wober's return to full training on Tuesday has coincided nicely with the next International Break in a fortnight when Kazakhstan host Austria!
The versatile defender has been restricted to just 63 minutes of game time all season, thanks in part to the knee injury he sustained during September's Nation League games for his Country; the same (or at-least connected compliant) he had been carrying over Pre-season and the early parts of the current campaign).
It's not just Wober we need to worry about. Dan James and Manor Solomon have both spent considerable time on the sidelines recently, yet are vital parts of their Countries set-up. It has been suggested that the Euro play-off loss between Wales and Poland last March had a detrimental effect on the Leeds contingent (Ampadu, James, Rodon and Roberts) both physically and mentally.
Those extra 120 minutes of game time, followed by penalty shoot-out heartache, may have had a detrimental effect on Leeds promotion charge - you only need to look at their results post March 26th. Many don't realise, but this is where Joe Rodon picked up his back injury, and spent the remainder of the season having pain killing injections before kick-off.
Should Leeds put their foot down and prohibit players who are not 100% fit to go on International Breaks. Whilst this is not a unique problem, Farke's superior squad means that Leeds are effected more than any other Championship outfit.
Is Farke under pressure to recall Joseph
Leeds will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday against a Plymouth side who have already conceded 13 goals from their last six games on the road.
The Whites have been slightly off the pace since spanking the Blades a fortnight ago. A goalless draw at Bristol City, preceded by a narrow 2-1 home win (curtesy of two absolute goal-keeping howlers) against Watford doesn't do Daniel Farke's side justice.
Leeds have been dominating games, without racking up big wins. They've mustered 199 shots at goal, scoring 19 giving them an average of less than a goal every 10 shots. Had they taken more of their chances, we'd be runaway leaders by now! Who should spearhead Leeds forward line against Plymouth.
