Fresh Leeds United injury concern emerges over player who was ‘excellent’ vs Millwall

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The beauty of Leeds United’s squad is that, depending on the opposition, Daniel Farke can pick between a variety of different options.

He can alternate between the trickiness of Manor Solomon or the explosive Largie Ramazani. The creative Junior Firpo or the diligent Sam Byram.

Speaking ahead of Leeds United’s 2-0 victory over Millwall at Elland Road, meanwhile, Daniel Farke shone a light on Ilia Gruev’s importance. The Bulgarian battleaxe, he feels, is always so useful away from home against teams who excel with the ball at their feet.

But as Millwall arrived in West Yorkshire on Wednesday night, Leeds needed a different sort of weapon. Not so much the blunt object of Gruev, but something a little more subtle.

The lock-picking talents of Joe Rothwell.

Joe Rothwell played like a poet as Leeds United beat Millwall

The AFC Bournemouth loanee is not often one of the first names on Farke’s team sheet these days. In fact, this was only his second start in the last seven Championship games.

But evenings like this are what Rothwell is made for. With Leeds dominating possession against a deep-lying, defensively-minded outfit, Farke needed someone capable of getting on the ball, grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck and making something happen.

And, much to the delight of many Leeds supporters on social media, Joe Rothwell ran the show at Elland Road with a performance of pure pomp and purpose.

Whether picking up the ball deep and driving forward, or playing probing passes through the lines, he was key to ensuring possession did not become stale, side-to-side, possession for the sake of possession.

“If you love football, you love Joe Rothwell,” puts Farke succinctly. “Tonight, he was really excellent. You can’t play him three games in [seven] days [but], with him in the starting line up, his home record is excellent.

“Also, he was recharged. He won crucial duels and won the ball and drove forward. He did this many times. We need him fully fit and on it and today he was on it.

“Great lad, good sense of humour. He holds his cards to himself in a nice and gentle way.

“His touches on the ball in training are so tender it’s like watching poetry! He could do with a goal and assist in his game. So let’s not praise him too much.”

Daniel Farke hopeful of Rothwell fitness ahead of QPR clash

At the age of 30 – the oldest of Leeds’ usual first-choice midfield options – Farke is keen to manage Rothwell’s minutes. The experienced ball-carrier was removed from proceedings with 87 minutes on the clock after making the home bench aware of a slight knee issue.

Farke will be now hoping Rothwell is fit enough to go again against Queens Park Rangers in Saturday’s early kick-off.

“Rothwell’s knee was getting stiffer and stiffer,” the German explains. “I wanted to have him on the pitch for as long as possible today. He gave the sign to take him off. We’ll out him in the ice bath for the next 48 hours.”

Though, on the upside, if Leeds’ playmaking poet cannot make it, Farke can replace him with the broad brushstrokes of the Brutalist Bulgarian Gruev.