Leeds United’s next opponents Arsenal appear to have received a big fitness boost with the news that a key player is back in training.
England international centre-back Ezri Konsa left Aston Villa to join Arsenal for £55m in the summer transfer window and Konsa played every minute of Arsenal’s last three Premier League games before the international break.
The 28-year-old was then called up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the four Nations League games during the current extended international break, Konsa playing the full 90 minutes of the opener against Spain but then rested for Tuesday night’s 2-0 win in the Czech Republic after suffering a minor injury.
England had announced on Monday that Konsa and Nico O'Reilly were following their own individual programmes at Tottenham Hotspur's training ground amid issues and O’Reilly has since left the camp to return to Manchester City.
Tuchel, though, says Konsa is now back in full training ahead of Sunday’s Nations League clash in Croatia and Tuesday’s hosting of the Czech Republic, both of which precede the return to Premier League action on Saturday lunchtime when Leeds visit Arsenal.
Speaking at Friday’s pre-Croatia press conference, Tuchel said: “Ezri Konsa seems to be back after he did the full training today. He is a key player for us and gives us a lot of hope.”