Sonny Perkins absence explained - MOT Leeds News 15/8/23

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By George Overhill

Sonny Perkins absence explained for Leeds United vs Birmingham amid Willy Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra situation - Adam Pope

Sonny Perkins did not refuse to play for Leeds United against Birmingham and only missed the game because he was ill, according to Adam Pope.

The BBC journalist said on the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast (14 August) that he and others had thought Daniel Farke’s answer to a question about absentees from the squad Saturday (12 August) not wanting to be there had included the teenage striker, but that it was “made clear” afterwards that he was missing from the 1-0 defeat through illness only.

Amid Willy Gnonto holding out of back-to-back games and Luis Sinisterra then not being part of the squad at St. Andrew’s Farke had said, as per the Yorkshire Evening Post (12 August): “If someone doesn’t want to be with us it’s not like I’m praying and begging oh please play for us.”

But Pope said (26m 55s): “I’d mentioned Perkins in the question [to Farke after the game] and everyone was assuming, myself included, that he was talking about him.

“But then it was made clear to us afterwards that Perkins was ill, and was meant to play for the 21s at Brighton…

“I can see that [playing for the 21s not the senior side] being a frustration too, but it is only fair to say that we were told that he was ill and had been sent home.”

When the team news came out for the Birmingham match it looked like the negative developments within the squad were showing no sign of letting up.

Sinisterra’s sudden absence after the club had released a statement on Gnonto the night before contributed to a very low mood among supporters that was not helped by the frustrating late defeat.

Joe Gelhardt starting up front and being replaced by Georginio Rutter during the game amid injuries elsewhere, when neither are out and out number nines, raised extra questions over the absence of Perkins.

So while it is a small mercy that the former West Ham youngster not appearing on the team sheet appears to have had a more pedestrian explanation it isn’t a hugely encouraging discovery that he probably wouldn’t have played anyway because he was due to feature the night before for the under-21s.

Perkins has already featured in the Premier League as a Hammers player so now looks like the ideal opportunity for to stake a claim in the Leeds United first team.

But as with Darko Gyabi right now it may be that he hasn’t earned the trust of Farke sufficiently to take advantage of a cleared field ahead of him.

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