Leeds United defender an injury doubt vs Derby County as Daniel Farke reveals problem in same knee as before — YEP 27/12/24
By Joe Donnohue
Leeds United defender Max Wober remains a doubt to feature
against Derby County this Sunday as the Austrian international has been unable
to train since reporting pain after back-to-back performances against the Rams
and Middlesbrough earlier this month.
Wober has made just four appearances and one start in the
Championship this season, largely due to a knee injury for which he underwent
minor surgery earlier in the campaign.
Daniel Farke says the player has still been experiencing
pain in the knee, which was operated on a couple of months ago, following his
most recent outing against Middlesbrough. He has been unable to make the
matchday squad in either of Leeds' last two games against Oxford United and
Stoke City and was an unused substitute in the previous fixture at Preston
North End.
Speaking ahead of Leeds' second trip to the Midlands in the
space of three days, Farke said: "He feels a bit of pain in the knee,
still a bit sore, so the knee where he had this surgery, little reaction after
a bit of load for him in the recent weeks. Of course, disappointed for him and
for us, because he was excellent when he was available, the [last] two games
wasn't able to train."
Wober spent last season on loan at Bundesliga club Borussia
Monchengladbach, then featured for Austria at UEFA Euro 2024 over the summer
which delayed his return to pre-season training with Leeds.
Unlike teammate Ilia Gruev, Wober's knee only required minor
surgery, therefore his current problem is not thought to be severe and unlikely
to keep him out for an extended period.
"Let's see how it develops in the next 48 hours. I hope
that pretty soon he's capable to train with us, but before he can train with
the team, there's no chance to take him with us to the games.
"There is a little chance that he's pretty soon back on
the training pitch, but we have to assess him more or less from day-to-day. And
so far, he has not trained," Farke added.
Elsewhere on the injury front, Farke admitted Sam Byram will
be closely monitored given his own injury history and the risk attached with
playing several games in a short window. Ethan Ampadu will also be assessed by
Leeds' medical staff ahead of the trip to Derby in order to ensure there is no
adverse reaction to the increase in workload following a prolonged spell on the
sidelines.