Leeds United have four points from their opening three Premier League games, and are looking to build on a solid start to the season when they visit Fulham on Saturday. However, Daniel Farke has serious selection issues ahead of their trip to London.
The Whites have already played two of last season’s top five, and while Arsenal smashed them 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium, Leeds earned plaudits for their fighting 0-0 draw against Fulham at Elland Road just before the international break.
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With the transfer window firmly on the rear-view mirror, Leeds’ minds are now focused on the games ahead, and they will take a trip to Craven Cottage to face Fulham, who are yet to win in the Premier League this season.
However, Leeds have a potential injury crisis in the middle of the park ahead of the game, and Farke will be sweating over the fitness of several players in the next few days as he prepares his team for the London trip on Saturday.
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Leeds United have a midfield crisis on their hands
Leeds were already down to bare bones in midfield ahead of the international break. Farke played all three fit midfielders in Anton Stach, Sean Longstaff and Ilia Gruev against Newcastle United.
Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu are dealing with knee injuries, and there is no clarity on whether they are fit enough to be in the squad against Fulham this Saturday.
Leeds cannot afford any more injuries in midfield ahead of the weekend, but it has emerged that Gruev now have a problem with his fitness.
Bulgaria fell 3-0 to Georgia on Sunday, and with Gruev sitting out the first half, it initially seemed like a small boost for Leeds and Farke.
However, Bulgaria manager Ilian Iliev revealed that the midfielder wasn’t risked from the start because of an injury, and he played with problems in the second half.
He was quoted as saying by LeedsUnited.News: “Gruev had problems, questionable whether to start or come in as a sub.
“He came in and coped. I hope there are no consequences from the fact that he played with problems.”
Farke will be crossing his fingers with Gruev
The Leeds manager expected Ampadu and Tanaka to return to the squad after the break, but there is no news yet on their fitness.
The Leeds medical team will assess Gruev’s injury, and Farke will be hopeful that it is not as serious, allowing him to be available for the game against Fulham.
However, if Tanaka and Ampadu are not ready to return, and Gruev’s injury rules him out, the Leeds manager will have a real selection headache in midfield.
Stach and Longstaff will be the only fit midfielders, and the manager could be forced to change the shape of his team to adapt to the potential midfield crisis.
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