Jesse Marsch reveals injury latest, winger plan and goalkeeper's serious car crash - YEP 4/8/22
None of Jesse Marsch’s injured list will return for Leeds United’s Premier League opener against Wolves but they’re getting closer to full fitness.
By Graham Smyth
Speaking ahead of the first weekend of the new top flight
season Marsch was optimistic about getting several senior players back in
training over the next couple of weeks.
"Dan James is suspended one more match, he will be out
this weekend and will play 90 mins in the 21s match,” said the American.
"That was by his request, that's incredible, really
good professionalism for him to realise he needs 90 minutes.
“Liam Cooper has had an Achilles issue from his off-season
programme. This week he's been on the pitch doing individual work, we're hoping
by next week he's in team training.
“Junior Firpo had a scan today and he is ahead of his
schedule but he's still probably two to three weeks away from being match
ready.
“Adam Forshaw has made really good progress with a little
MCL issue, not a pure MCL strain, and we're hopeful he will be training next
week.
“Luke Ayling has made a lot of progress and is ahead of
schedule. We’re trying not to pressure him too much. He's been on the pitch,
hopefuly he can be in training [soon].
“Luis Sinsterra was on the pitch today and looking very
good, getting closer and closer to his top speed. Hopefully he will be
available for the weekend after.
“And Stuart Dallas is making progress, he has had a couple
of check ups after the severe surgery and he's right on track.”
Marsch also has a pair of youngsters working their way back
from serious issues.
Mateusz Bogusz had knee surgery in February after injuring
his left knee on loan at Ibiza and the head coach will take a look at the
Polish youth international when he returns to the pitch properly.
“Bogusz has been working incredibly hard and has also been
on the pitch and we’re hopeful he can be back in team training soon. He could
be an option. I need to get to know him better and see him with our team. It’s
exciting that he's coming back strong.”
The other absentee is goalkeeper Dani van den Heuvel who was
in a serious car crash this summer.
“van den Heuvel had a car accident with the U20s in
Holland,” said Marsch.
"He broke some vertebrae, we were really worried, not
even as a football injury but a life situation and he's showing really good
progress. He’s back in the gym. It will be a couple of months before he'll be
eligible.”
Leeds were without Firpo for their tour of Australia after
the left-back picked up a knock against Blackpool in York, while Sinisterra
limped out of Leeds’ pre-season friendly with Crystal Palace in Perth in the
first half due to a hamstring issue that has proven to be minor. The same game,
indeed the same half of football, robbed Marsch of Forshaw’s services after he
appeared to tweak his knee.
Cooper has been missing for the entirety of the Whites’
pre-season fixture programme due to an Achilles injury sustained on a treadmill
in the off-season, while Ayling has been battling his way back to fitness
following knee surgery at the back end of last season.
Leeds’ only senior long-term absentee is Dallas who suffered
a femoral fracture against Manchester City last term and required surgery.