It would be easy to write off Leeds’ game against Guiseley last night as a meaningless pre-season friendly especially when most of the attention has been placed on tonight’s friendly against Blackburn which is set to include most of Marcelo Bielsa’s first team squad. However, to dismiss lasts night’s game would be a disservice to one fan favourite at Elland Road.
Last night was Adam Forshaw’s first game in two years following a torrid battle against injury. The former Brentford man joined Leeds back in January 2018. After a fair-to-middling start to life at Elland Road, he really hit form in the 2018-19 season making 32 appearances as the Whites pushed for promotion.
However, he crucially missed the second leg of their play-off semi-final against Derby and in his absence, Leeds fell to defeat. Like the club as a whole, he vowed to come back stronger in 2019/20 as Leeds desperately looked to end their wait for promotion. He started off well but after seven games he picked up what was believed to be a minor hip injury.
What was thought to be an injury that would keep him out for weeks at worst slowly turned into an injury that would keep him out for months and eventually years.
At this moment he’s actually missed more games than he’s played for Leeds and has yet to taste Premier League football in a Leeds United shirt.
However, in last night’s friendly his nightmare finally seemed to end when he played his first game in two years.
In front of his young son, Forshaw took to the field on the hour mark and from his holding midfield role helped Leeds cling onto victory.
He then took to social media to speak about the emotion of his journey back after “two years of hell.” In an Instagram post he said: “My son won’t remember watching me before my 2 years of hell. So, for him to be there tonight is a special special moment for me and my family”
“Happy to get a run out”
It truly was a lovely moment seeing him return to the pitch. Hopefully it won’t be long until we see him pulling on that famous white jersey in the Premier League.
