Leeds United’s injury crisis only seems to worsen as time passes. With The Whites targeting a direct promotion this season, injury has played a major role in The 49ers’ campaign.
Having played the play-offs last season, Leeds United failed to gain promotion losing in the finals. Following the disappointment, Daniel Farke will look to seal promotion by finishing at the top.
Standing 5th in the league at the moment, Daniel Farke’s men are way off the goal. As the days pass, Farke and Co. will have to look for temporary reinforcements for the injured if they want to play in the English top flight next season.
With the club looking for reinforcements, the latest news has come in regarding a Leeds United midfielder. The injured Ilia Gruev is expected to spend five months on the sidelines following his meniscus surgery.
Talking to BNT, the Bulgarian National Team manager Ilian Iliev revealed that Gruev will be out till March. His return will mark Bulgaria’s continuation of the World Cup qualifiers.
At first, we thought that the meniscus was not damaged and that it would take a month to recover. It turned out to be the worst, about five months will be the recovery and he will return, alive and well, for the World [Cup] qualifications.
-Ilian Iliev via Dsport
QUIZ: Can you name these past and present Leeds United players?
The midfield crisis at Leeds United
Ethan Ampadu is also in the hospital alongside Ilia Gruev
Gruev suffered the injury in Leeds’ draw against Norwich City. At first, the injury seemed more of a discomfort but further assessment revealed a different story.
The 24-year-old will return in time for Bulgaria’s World Cup qualifiers but this timeline is a problematic one for Leeds United. The Whites have also lost Ethan Ampadu and his return remains uncertain at the moment.
This leaves The 49ers in a pinch as the club will look forward to signing free agents till January. The winter transfer window will provide a good chance for the club to seek a loanee for cover in the middle of the park.
Although Daniel Farke isn’t a big fan of mid-season signings, the German gaffer will need to make exceptions this time. The international break also provides a decent time for The Whites to fall back and regroup.
Free agents will be a tough decision for The 49ers as most of them will not be fit to start immediately. This leaves the January transfer window for the regrouping as the club tries to plug the gaps in hopes of promotion.
