‘Complicated’… Daniel Farke says 24-year-old Leeds player could actually miss the rest of the season

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Daniel Farke shared a worrying update on the fitness of Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk earlier today.

Struijk has not played since the Boxing Day defeat at Preston North End due to an injury that has taken considerably longer to heal than initially expected.

Farke claimed last month that a return to full team training after the upcoming international break had been targeted at Elland Road, but there are now doubts as to whether that will be the case.

The Leeds boss gave a detailed answer as to what has been going on behind-the-scenes with his recovery, as well as why it has been such a ‘complicated’ route back to fitness.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Farke says the next 10 days will prove ‘decisive’ as to whether Struijk will even be able to play again this season, with the prospect of surgery looming.

Farke shares worrying update on Struijk fitness

“With Pascal Struijk more or less some bad news because he hasn’t been able to return to team training in the recent days. The next 10 days will be decisive. It’s a complicated situation, to sum it up he’s got a fibre cartilage injury and there are two ways to treat this injury.

“Either you go for surgery but that would’ve ruled him out for the whole season, or you go the conservative route. The doctors recommended this and to go for injection therapy and were quite hopeful it would be beneficial for him and to have him after the international break in team training and for the run in. We had to go this route.

“The cartilage needs some heeling and has progressed really, but the last 5 per cent are missing and the next 10 days will be decisive to say either he is back in team training after the break and is capable to handle the load and for the run in.

“Or we have to go the other way and go for surgery, but then he’s out for the whole season. But then at least we have him back in pre-season, ready for the new season. The next 10 days will be decisive.”

Obviously a return to fitness for Struijk would be a massive boost for Leeds in such a crucial period, but at the same time, it is vital that he is not rushed back to risk aggravating the injury.

Leeds have managed to cope well in his absence with Ethan Ampadu having dropped into central defence, which has allowed Ilia Gruev to come in for a run of matches in holding midfield.

Hopefully Farke will have some positive news to deliver supporters once the international break is over, with a busy Easter period set to kick off the Championship run-in.