Leeds United have had a rare full week on the training pitch to prepare for their upcoming match with Derby County and so the Whites’ social media team have shared some footage from Thorp Arch.
Daniel Farke‘s side are about to head into the busiest time of the season with fixtures coming thick and fast over the festive period, a point in the season that always proves crucial.
Derby represent the first of seven matches in less than a month and Leeds are going to need to keep everyone fit as best as they possibly can.
Ethan Ampadu’s return to training this week is a huge boost ahead of the upcoming run and Farke’s comments seemed to suggest he could be ready to start very soon.
A midweek without a game means Farke will have been able to lead some pretty intense sessions and that can only benefit Ampadu in his quest to return to 100 per cent.
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Junior Firpo absent from Leeds training footage
However, it wasn’t all good news in Farke’s press conference on Thursday as he revealed that Junior Firpo is a doubt for Derby.
Firpo is said to have picked up a knock to his foot in training earlier this week and so just one game after serving a three-match ban, he could be missing again.
And it appears Leeds’ fears have been realised by the fact Firpo was absent completely from the club’s latest ‘Inside Training’ video posted onto YouTube.
It is impossible to know what day this footage was taken on but Farke did suggest the ‘crucial‘ Firpo had to miss a session, which has now been confirmed.
His absence does not necessarily mean he is 100 per cent out of the clash with the Rams, though, as Farke did go onto say a late decision would be made.
It is likely to depend on whether Firpo was able to take part in Friday’s session, which of course remains to be seen.
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Who could replace Firpo for Leeds vs Derby?
One man who definitely won’t be replacing Firpo if he doesn’t make it is Sam Byram, who will miss the second match in a row due to a hamstring issue.
As such, that leaves just Max Wober and Isaac Schmidt competing for that last spot in Leeds’ back four, and based on Farke’s comments, it is likely to be the former.
Schmidt himself has only just returned from injury, while Wober has gradually been building up his match fitness with 90 minutes for Austria and two substitute appearances for Leeds.
Wober is yet to start a single Championship match all season but this could be the opportunity he needs to stake a claim in the side.
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