As Leeds United prepares for their climactic match against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, completing a grueling sequence of four games in just nine days, Daniel Farke has provided an update on the team’s condition.
The squad has seen a fair amount of rotation in an effort to maintain peak freshness, and Farke announced that the lineup for tomorrow’s encounter will remain unchanged. This implies that Jaidon Anthony will miss out once more, sidelined for personal reasons.
However, there’s a silver lining for Leeds supporters regarding defender Pascal Struijk. Farke confirmed that Struijk is on track to make his comeback following the international break, in time to contribute to the season’s critical final stretch.
During his pre-match press briefing, Farke expressed his astonishment at the team’s solid performance in Struijk’s absence but voiced his eagerness to reintegrate a player he considers fundamental to Leeds’ future ambitions.
Struijk’s Anticipated Return Marks a Milestone for Leeds’ Future
Farke highlighted, “It’s almost surreal we haven’t discussed him in the last two months, a testament to our defensive discipline. He’s instrumental to what we’re building here.”
Acknowledging the challenges of regaining peak form, Farke remarked, “It’s not as simple as flipping a switch to bring him back to top condition, but we’re hopeful he’ll join team training right after the international break, if not sooner.”
Struijk’s pending return is eagerly anticipated, especially given Leeds’ admirable adaptation in his absence. His leadership, threat from set pieces, and technical skill have been sorely missed.
Reflecting on Struijk’s last appearance during the Boxing Day game against Preston North End, where his formidable effort nearly secured Leeds a draw despite being a man down, his value to the team is unmistakable.
With Ilia Gruev performing commendably in midfield in Struijk’s absence, the strategy to shift Ethan Ampadu back into midfield and restore Struijk to central defense promises to significantly bolster the team’s dynamics.
