Leeds United injury blow softened by good news on striker as Farke waits on star man for Hull City - YEP 19/9/23
Leeds United’s Djed Spence injury blow has been softened somewhat by good news from Thorp Arch with the return to team training of Patrick Bamford.
By Graham Smyth
The club confirmed in a statement on Monday that Spence, on
loan for the season from Premier League Tottenham Hotspur, would be out for up
to eight weeks with a knee injury. Spence damaged his lateral collateral
ligament in a challenge during training last week but the club’s medical
department do not currently expect him to require surgery.
But just as Daniel Farke has lost an important part of the
puzzle for an eight-week period, he has welcomed back another after eight weeks
out, in Bamford.
The forward, who was an integral part of the promotion squad
under Marcelo Bielsa and enjoyed a fine first season in the top flight before
injuries plagued him for successive campaigns, is unlikely to feature against
Hull City unless Farke encounters some sort of emergency.
"Good news, Patrick joined us yesterday, first time in
team training,” said the Leeds boss.
"Obviously the games this week are too soon after he
was out for eight weeks. But good news and a major boost. Once you're back in
team training you're theoretically available but we mustn't forget he was out
for eight weeks. He could be available but he's definitely not in my [Hull]
plans, we have to be a bit careful.”
Junior Firpo, who has not featured since Farke came in due
to a knee injury and a subsequent hip problem, is still training individually.
And Farke is waiting to see if star man Ethan Ampadu is 100 per cent for Hull
after taking a whack at Millwall in the second half on Sunday.
"Ampadu got a knock, there are some question marks
because there are knocks and bruises in each game,” said Farke
"It doesn't look too bad, he's Welsh so he is tough, or
he should be tough because he is Welsh. I guess he will be alright but let's
see how it develops.”
Sunday’s 3-0 win at Millwall came too soon for Liam Cooper,
who returned to team training last week after a foot injury sustained in the
home game against Cardiff City.
Even in a three-game week Farke is not anticipating too many
changes for the midweek encounter with the Tigers.
“We have also lots of quality and players who are pushing,”
he said.
"I'm not too concerned about this turnaround but we
have to keep in mind the complete picture. Players came back from international
duty, sometimes with lots of minutes and travelling. We have three games in six
days. I'm not a fan of rotating too much, it breaks the rhythm too much. I'm
always thinking about one, two, three positions but we definitely won't change
11 players.”
