20-year-old Leeds outcast could have just been presented surprise route back into the first team

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Ian Poveda has been named in Colombia’s squad for their December fixtures in what has come as a bit of a surprise absence for the Leeds United man – but it might just help youngster Mateo Joseph.

Poveda, 23, has played six times in the Championship for Leeds this season. Indeed, he’s been involved in 17 of our 19 Championship games this term. An unused sub in 11 of those matches. But a regular cog.

So, it came as a bit of a surprise on Monday when Colombia announced a squad for fixtures this month, against Venezuela and Mexico. A kind of B-team, of players that are available and allowed by the club.

Poveda has been given that license. With Colombia playing on December 10, and then December 16, he will be missing for our next three games. The winger will need replacing in the Leeds match day squad.

Ian Poveda’s surprise absence might just help Mateo Joseph

That could hand Joseph the chance to break back in. The Spain-born England U20 was regularly in the Leeds squad last season, playing six times at senior level – involved in the Leeds squad on 12 occasions.

This season, Joseph has had to endure injury. He has failed to play for the senior side, only a part of the matchday squad twice. Joe Gelhardt was missing through injury against Middlesbrough. Joseph is next.

Surely then, Joseph will be the one that replaces Poveda against Blackburn if Gelhardt is still unavailable and that may just hand the attacker a chance to break back in – given, he can play out wide and up top.

Throughout pre-season, Daniel Farke used Joseph up top and out wide. It makes him the obvious one to come in for Poveda. Poveda’s surprise trip might give Joseph a way back in the 20-year-old needed.