£4m Leeds United player helps country end two-year wait for competitive win on Sunday night

Add as preferred source on Google

Leeds United have a huge number of players on international duty this month and one of those has just helped his country win for the first time in a competitive fixture since September 2022.

The signings of Ao Tanaka and Manor Solomon, the returns of Brenden Aaronson and Max Wober as well as new call-ups for Mateo Joseph and Karl Darlow has increased Leeds‘ number of international players.

Darlow is one of four Leeds players currently with Wales, alongside Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon and Charlie Crew with Dan James injured. Wilfried Gnonto is with Italy’s U21’s and Ilia Gruev is currently with Bulgaria.

But the latter could be set to fly back to Yorkshire in due course having already completed his second game of the break, as Bulgaria managed to pick up a narrow 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in Plovdiv.

• READ MORE: Why Daniel Farke could be about to throw Largie Ramazani in at the deep end

Gruev helps Bulgaria secure first competitive win in two years

Back in September 2022, Bulgaria finished a Nations League campaign with a solid nine points. Their final result, a 1-0 win over a North Macedonia side that included a certain Gjanni Alioski, as well as Gruev.

Since then, Bulgaria have played eight competitive matches and failed to win. Victory has been few and far between for Gruev’s side, only coming in the form of friendlies against minnows Cyprus and Tanzania.

But on Sunday night, in their second Nations League game this season, they hosted Northern Ireland where Stuart Dallas has seemingly become a part of the coaching staff and secured a big 1-0 victory.

Five clean sheets in a row for Gruev as importance grows

The £4m signing from Werder Bremen’s importance for Leeds is growing and it is the same on with the National Team. He played every second of Bulgaria’s two games during the break, securing four points.

A 0-0 draw away at Belarus has now been followed by a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland and Gruev was a key part of that. Just like he has been at Leeds, with the Whites going three games without conceding.

That is now five clean sheets in a row for Gruev for both club and country, playing every single minute other than a few minutes rest in the 2-0 win over Hull City. Underrated, but Gruev is become a key player.