Sport nationLeeds United manager Daniel Farke is anxiously awaiting an update on the fitness of Ilia Gruev following his early substitution in Bulgaria’s recent friendly match against Azerbaijan. Gruev was on the pitch for the first half of the FIFA Series game at Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku on Monday, 25 March, before being taken off at the break. This substitution came shortly after he played the entire match in Bulgaria’s 1-0 win over Tanzania, also in Baku.
There was a moment of concern when Gruev was tackled in the first half of the Azerbaijan game, but he managed to play on until half-time. It’s not yet clear whether the decision to substitute him was a precautionary measure planned by Bulgaria’s head coach Ilian Iliev or a response to a potential injury.
Leeds supporters and Farke are hopeful that Gruev will return to the club in full health, especially with the domestic league schedule set to resume shortly after the international break. Gruev has been instrumental in Leeds United’s strong performance since the beginning of the year and is expected to be a key player in the upcoming match against Watford, should he be fit.
The timing of Azerbaijan’s final friendly match may benefit Farke, as it allows for a longer recovery period for Gruev compared to other international players who have fixtures later in the week. Farke’s concern extends to the entire Leeds squad on international duty, including the Welsh players who are set to compete against Poland.
Farke’s primary wish is for all his players, including Gruev, to avoid injuries and be ready for the crucial match at Vicarage Road as Leeds United continues their push for Premier League promotion.
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