Graham Smyth has claimed that Charlie Cresswell could start for Leeds United on Wednesday night when the Whites welcome Swansea City to Elland Road – with the injury list starting to get longer.
Pascal Struijk was only a substitute last Friday, after missing the 2-1 win over Plymouth. It comes after having to go under the knife and have surgery on his hernia, having played with pain in recent matches.
He got a handful of minutes against Stoke, and Daniel Farke will have been planning not to use him. He only came on as captain Liam Cooper picked up a hamstring injury. Joe Rodon will of course, start.
But who partners him? Cooper seems almost definitely out of action and it will be interesting to see if Farke feels Struijk is ready for 90 minutes. Indeed, he was surprised at which the speed Struijk returned.
However, it might be that Farke does not want to risk Struijk ahead of a crucial clash against Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough on Saturday. Smyth says Cresswell could start, in his latest piece in the YEP.
“It’s possible, if Cooper has done himself another mischief – went off holding the back of his leg – and Struijk isn’t quite ready to start, Cresswell could find himself in the side in midweek against Swansea.”
Graham Smyth says Charlie Cresswell could start vs Swansea
The defender has been made to wait. His last, and only League start of the season, came in the 1-0 loss to Birmingham City – on August 12. Our second league game of the campaign. He did start in the Cup.
But that failed to convince Farke, clearly. Rodon and Struijk are first choice, Cooper is first in reserve and Cresswell is fourth choice. However, the £4m-rated defender may be called upon against Swansea.
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