Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper in line for Leeds United returns at Wolverhampton Wanderers - Yorkshire Post 17/3/22
Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper are in line to play some part for Leeds United at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday.
By Stuart Rayner
The key pair have not played since injuring hamstrings
against Brentford in December. Patrick Bamford, who was also injured that day,
has just returned to fitness and Phillips and Cooper can expect to progress in
a similar way.
The plan had been for Bamford to play 10 minutes at
Leicester City, but with substitutes needed earlier, his comeback came from the
bench against Aston Villa. He started the win against Norwich City, but was
replaced at half-time.
Bamford has felt some soreness this week, but nothing
expected to stop him taking another step at Molineux.
A back injury means Joe Gelhardt is a doubt to play after
scoring the winner as a very late substitute against Norwich, but coach Jesse
Marsch was confident he would play as he delivered an upbeat injury bulletin.
"Junior (Firpo) has an MCL (medial cruciate ligament
injury)," he confirmed. "They think it's not so bad, it's a little
bit lighter, grade two so from the date if they maybe think three to five
weeks.
"Tyler (Roberts) had successful surgery (on a ruptured
hamstring), Liam and Kalvin are fully training and are eligible for this weeknd
so we'll make a decision today.
"Joffy (Gelhardt) has a little bit of a back issue,
that's why he didn't play in the (under)23 game and we think he'll be ready for
the match (against Wolves) but we're not totally certain.
"Lewis Bate and Jamie Shackleton both picked up
injuries in that match so they might not be available.
"Leo is doing quite well and we're hoping by the end of
next week he might be in training. That will be important for is to have
another defensive option."
