Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams will miss the Whites’ clash with Wolves this weekend after sustaining a hamstring strain in training.
Adams’ injury – first reported by The Athletic – will also see him left out of the USMNT squad for their matches during the upcoming international break.
Losing their captain will come as a huge blow to the US national side as they gear up for CONCACAF Nations League matches against Grenada and El Salvador.
The 24-year-old’s absence will be even more keenly felt by Leeds boss Javi Gracia as he prepares for another vital six-pointer against Wolves on Saturday. As his side currently sit 19th in the Premier League table – four points away from the weekend’s opponents who are 13th – the loss of Adams’ combative presence in midfield could prove costly.
Adams will remain in England during the March international break to focus on his recovery, with those at Leeds hopeful he will be fit to return to action when the Whites face league leaders Arsenal on 1 April.
A statement from Leeds – as per The Athletic – read:
“Tyler Adams has sustained a hamstring injury in training this week and will therefore not be joining up with the USMNT for international duty after Saturday’s game with Wolves.
“The midfielder will remain at Thorp Arch for further assessment.”
Adams to miss out on Wolves clash and US national duty
Now this is a blow.
Whilst not necessarily flashy, Adams does all the things that you would want for a player in his position: breaking up play, making interceptions, putting in a crunching tackle here and there.
As in any game, midfield dominance is often critical to victory, and this will certainly be the case at Molineux at the weekend. Gracia also now has a selection decision to make as he chooses Adams’ replacement.
Does he pull Jack Harrison or Brenden Aaronson back into the three man midfield, leaving space for Wilfried Gnonto to fill out wide in the starting XI? Does he go for Sam Greenwood to provide more attacking thrust? Or does he even opt for the young – yet talented – Darko Gyabi to take the American’s place?
It’s hard to envy the choice Gracia now has to make, but you can only hope that the loss of Adams won’t prove too detrimental to Leeds’ chances of emerging from Molineux with a positive result.
