Sport nationLeeds United has welcomed back three players to the squad this week following respective injuries. Ilia Gruev, Pascal Struijk, and Junior Firpo are all pushing to be back in contention for the FA Cup Third Round tie against Harrogate Town on Saturday evening.
The return of these players is a significant boost for Leeds United, particularly with the busy schedule of fixtures coming up. Manager Daniel Farke will be hopeful of reintegrating the players back into the team, but he will also be cautious not to rush them back too quickly.
The news of the players’ return was confirmed by Farke during his pre-match press conference this week. While he did reveal that Patrick Bamford will be out for four weeks with a hamstring injury, and Joel Piroe will miss the Harrogate Town game due to muscle issues, the return of Gruev, Struijk, and Firpo was a welcome boost.
Gruev, in particular, has been out for a long time with a knee injury. He last played for Leeds United in September when they traveled to Norwich City. However, he took to Instagram to share his delight at being back with the squad, posting a picture of himself back on the training pitch at Thorp Arch with a beaming smile.
His teammates, past and present, were quick to react to the news, with Archie Gray and Burnley’s Jaidon Anthony among those to comment on Gruev’s post. The Bulgarian’s return is a significant boost for Leeds United’s strength in depth, particularly in midfield.
Gruev might have dropped down the pecking order due to the emergence of Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka as two of the best in the division, but his return gives Leeds United another very good deep-lying option to help them dig deep and stop results like Blackburn and Hull happening.
Having that extra cover in the middle of the park is great, and it could also have implications on how Leeds United use both Tanaka and Rothwell – perhaps shifting them into more advanced areas. The return of Struijk and Firpo is also a welcome boost, particularly with the FA Cup tie against Harrogate Town coming up.
Struijk was only absent for the trip to Hull City last time out, but his return to the fold is a significant boost. Firpo, meanwhile, has seemingly overcome his hamstring problem to return to full team training.
The news of the players’ return has been met with excitement from Leeds United fans, who are eager to see them back in action. The return of Gruev, Struijk, and Firpo is a significant boost for Leeds United, and it will be interesting to see how they fit back into the team.
With the busy schedule of fixtures coming up, Leeds United will need all the help they can get. The return of these three players is a welcome boost, and it will be interesting to see how they perform in the coming weeks.
In other news, Leeds United has been linked with a move for a new winger. The club is reportedly interested in signing a player who can provide width and pace to the team. While nothing has been confirmed yet, it is clear that Leeds United is looking to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window.
The return of Gruev, Struijk, and Firpo is a significant boost for Leeds United, but the club knows that they need to bring in new players to strengthen their squad. With the January transfer window open, Leeds United will be looking to make some significant signings to help them push up the table.
Key points:
- Leeds United has welcomed back three players to the squad this week following respective injuries.
- Ilia Gruev, Pascal Struijk, and Junior Firpo are all pushing to be back in contention for the FA Cup Third Round tie against Harrogate Town.
- The return of these players is a significant boost for Leeds United’s strength in depth, particularly in midfield.
- Gruev might have dropped down the pecking order, but his return gives Leeds United another very good deep-lying option.
- Having that extra cover in the middle of the park is great, and it could also have implications on how Leeds United use both Tanaka and Rothwell.
- The return of Struijk and Firpo is also a welcome boost, particularly with the FA Cup tie against Harrogate Town coming up.
- Leeds United has been linked with a move for a new winger in the January transfer window.
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