Ilia Gruev has had to endure a bit of a difficult season with injury hampering the Leeds United midfielder for as many as four months – and now he’s missed out on a major award.
Approaching two years at Leeds United since completing a £4m move to Elland Road from Werder Bremen, Gruev has managed just 54 appearances in that time – with Gruev being used rotationally.
The left-footed midfielder remains an indifferent option in this Leeds squad and the question mark remains over whether he will have an impact on a side that could be in the Premier League next term.
Gruev is back on National Team duty for the first time since the September break after his knee injury kept him sidelined in October and November. But before playing, Bulgaria hosted their player awards.
Ilia Gruev finishes second for a second successive season
Bulgaria are in action against Ireland twice in the Nations League over the course of the March break and it will see Gruev likely play 90 minutes on both occasions. But on Monday, an awards ceremony.
For the second successive season, Gruev was named as Bulgaria’s second-best player despite a disrupted 2024 in which he missed the last three months of the year. He was second to PAOK’s Kiril Despedov.
Despedov had a hand in 17 league goals last season and has continued in the same vein this term, with four goals and four assists. In third, Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov was handed a podium finish.
Ilia Gruev one of 16 Leeds United players on National Team duty
Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon and Dan James are all with Wales. Junior Firpo and Ao Tanaka have gone beyond Europe, while Israel Solomon, Wilfried Gnonto and Mateo Joseph are all the Leeds attackers in action.
Isaac Schmidt got a surprise Switzerland call up while youngsters Diogo Monteiro, Darko Gyabi, Sam Chambers, Rory Mahady, Charlie Crew are all in action as is out-on-loan Rasmus Kristensen.
Plenty of Leeds players in action over the next fortnight then, with Gruev looking to build on his 18 caps with Bulgaria. Daniel Farke will have his fingers crossed that his Leeds squad will return injury free.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
