Daniel Farke remains hopeful Jayden Bogle will be fit for Leeds United's opening Premier League fixture against Everton. The right-back, a key figure in their march to the Championship title last season, has not featured in their final two pre-season friendlies with Villarreal and AC Milan due to a hip flexor injury.
Whites boss Farke said Bogle has started doing individual work again on the grass as he continues to build up his fitness. Switzerland international Isaac Schmidt lined up at right-back today at the Aviva Stadium but failed to impress. Schmidt has been the subject of transfer interest from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in recent weeks. There remains a distinct possibility Schmidt will leave Elland Road before the transfer window closes if United bolster their full back department.
Farke also confirmed Sebastiaan Bornauw is in line to resume full team training next week following a spell on the sidelines with a calf problem. The centre-back, recruited from German club Wolfsburg for around £5m, will be hoping to get the nod to partner Joe Rodon at the heart of their rearguard when the Toffees visit Elland Road on Monday, August 18, with Jaka Bijol unavailable for selection through suspension.
Goalkeeper Illan Meslier was a notable absentee from the travelling party to Ireland. Lucas Perri started in between the sticks for the first time since arriving from Lyon.
Explaining the rationale behind leaving Meslier out of the squad, Farke told the media: "Today we decided to play just two goalkeepers and for that there was not necessary for him to travel with us. [Lucas] Perri is not there at 100 per cent yet so we wanted to give him 45 minutes and Karl [Darlow] is ahead of the pecking order at the moment.
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"He had a fantastic finish last season and also really good pre-season. So there’s no need for me to change the order."
Eyebrows were raised over Perri being handed the No 1 jersey. He said: "Meslier was more or less number two behind Karl. Karl doesn’t give me any reason to change the pecking order. Perri comes in full of confidence having qualified for European competition (with Lyon).
"It’s not a decision against Illan, it’s more also for the confidence of Lucas to make him welcome and why we signed him."
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