Connect with us

Latest

Daniel Farke will have midfield headaches to solve for Leeds in the coming weeks

Leeds United managed to get the job done against Harrogate Town and progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday evening. Daniel Farke fielded a heavily rotated team and several of his top players were given a break. However, more importantly, the Leeds boss got a chance to signal the return of two of his most important players this weekend. Ilia Gruev and Junior Firpo returned from their respective injuries and performed cameos in the 1-0 win at Elland Road. Their focus will turn towards the Championship and the Yorkshire giants will have a bigger squad to choose from in the coming weeks.

Leeds progressed in the FA Cup while ensuring some of their top players got a break following a hectic Christmas schedule in the Championship.

Issac Schmidt looked solid in the full-back position after getting his first start since joining the club and Largie Ramazani’s winning goal also ensured that the winger will be in Farke’s thoughts when he selects his team against Sheffield Wednesday next Sunday.

Farke will also be pleased that Gruev and Firpo returned to the pitch after recovering from their injuries and are now fit for selection in the upcoming Championship games.

Gruev’s injury earlier in the season was a major blow as he was a certainty in the starting eleven and it forced Leeds to sign Josuha Guilavogui on a free transfer in October.

The Bulgarian will not be rushed into the starting eleven and Farke will hope to build back his fitness through a few substitute appearances in the coming games.

However, Gruev’s return also means that the Leeds boss will have serious headaches when choosing his midfield pair for the second half of the season.

Daniel Farke have decisions to make on his midfield

Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell stepped up to the plate following Gruev and Ethan Ampadu’s injuries earlier in the season and made the midfield spots their own.

However, the partnership was broken up when Daniel Farke decided to restore Ampadu to the starting eleven once he returned from his injury and is likely to continue in that role for the rest of the season.

Tanaka lost his place in the eleven despite looking like a million bucks this season but the competition for a place in the Leeds midfield is only going to get fiercer in the coming weeks and months.

Gruev was a certainty in the starting eleven before his injury and he will need time to hit the fitness levels needed to be ready to play the full 90 minutes.

However, it will give Farke selection headaches as Tanaka and Rothwell have done very little wrong in the last few months and Ampadu is the club captain.

The Bulgarian will not be starting against Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road next Sunday but he will soon regain the fitness needed to be in the starting eleven.

Farke will have a few big decisions to make on his midfield make-up in the coming weeks and months.

This is a happy problem for the Leeds manager

The Leeds players looked tired towards the end of last season and there are fears that it could again be the same in the second half of the campaign.

Farke is also not looking like bringing in new signings in the winter window and is expected to keep his faith in the current squad for the rest of the season.

Midfield is the engine room of a team and as things stand, the Leeds boss has several options to choose from for the rest of the campaign.

Gruev’s return has increased the competition for places in the Leeds midfield but the options mean, Farke has the chance to rotate his midfielders in the coming months.

Tanaka and Rothwell ensured that the levels didn’t drop in the absence of Ampadu and Gruev and all four of them are fit to play.

Ampadu and Gruev started the season as the starting midfielders and now the Leeds boss is aware that he has four quality players that he can happily rotate for the rest of the season.

Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Must See