Leeds United reveal reasons behind quartet's absence as training camp begins without keeper duo - YEP 4/12/22
Leeds United have kicked off their World Cup training camp in Spain, without a quartet of first team players.
By Graham Smyth
Jesse Marsch is putting his players through their paces this
week ahead of a friendly game against Elche on Thursday but is without two of
his goalkeepers. Both Illan Meslier and Kristoffer Klaesson are suffering from
a viral illness and have been unable to travel, leaving Joel Robles and Dani
van den Heuvel as Marsch's options for the friendly. Harry Christy is also out
in Spain with the Under 21s and can be drafted in if necessary.
Robles was brought in during the summer transfer window to
help support 22-year-old's Meslier and Klaesson, and has thus far featured in
the EFL Cup and Papa John's Trophy. Patrick Bamford is currently out in Munich
for a groin operation but head of medicine and performance Rob Price, who will
fly from Spain to Germany to accompany the striker for the procedure, expects
him available for action again within two weeks.
The operation on the inguinal canal is considered a minor
one, after which players can return to running and training in just a matter of
days. Bamford had recovered from the hip injury that kept him out of
Bournemouth and Spurs before the break, but felt slight discomfort in his groin
and Leeds decided to complete the procedure in order to have him back for the
Premier League's restart.
Left-back Junior Firpo is the fourth first team player
missing from the training camp's first sessions having sustained a minor knock,
but the plan is to fly him out later in the week. Luis Sinisterra and Stuart
Dallas have joined the squad on the trip as they continue their rehabilitation
from longer term injuries and Adam Forshaw is involved in training again having
had a hernia operation.
Marsch's side are in action at the Estadio Manuel Martinez
Valero, at 7:15pm UK time on Thursday. Leeds fans will be housed in the away
section and tickets are priced €25.
