Leeds United return to Championship action with a Yorkshire derby against Sheffield United on Friday and Daniel Farke has been handed a major double boost ahead of it.
The Whites could not have asked for a more difficult game to come back to after the international break as they face the only remaining unbeaten side in the EFL, who have conceded just three goals all season.
Once again, several members of Daniel Farke’s squad have been away on international duty, six of which are in action today, with Ao Tanaka’s Japan kicking things off earlier.
However, what this break has allowed since Sunderland is some much needed time off to recover. Farke handed the non-internationals the full week to rest after the draw at the Stadium of Light.
Leeds had been seriously struggling with injuries and so the last couple of weeks has given them some extra time to get themselves back fit.
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Major Manor Solomon and Dan James injury update ahead of Leeds return
Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, Max Wober, Dan James and Manor Solomon were all absent from Leeds’ last outing at Sunderland.
Considering all five of those players are full internationals, it shows the level of quality Leeds have been missing in recent weeks.
Ampadu, Gruev and Wober still have someway to go until they are back fully fit, but according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, James and Solomon have handed Farke a major boost.
As per the report, both players have been back in full team training this week, which should mean they are back in the squad at Elland Road on Friday.
James has missed Leeds’ last six matches due to a hamstring injury, while Solomon has been out for four due to a combination of back and hamstring issues.
Leeds have been missing that extra bit of quality to bring off the bench in recent matches but these two should provide that in abundance.
Solomon or James could start for Leeds
In an ideal world, Farke would have liked to ease both Solomon and James back into action after such long lay-offs, but he may not get that chance.
Due to the scheduling of Leeds’ match with the Blades, Brenden Aaronson is facing a real fight to be ready to start.
Aaronson and his USA teammates are in action away at Mexico tonight, with the game not actually getting underway until 3.30am BST due to the time difference.
That gives him just 62 hours to fly home, recover and get himself ready to face the Blades, which looks like a tough ask.
If he can get himself ready for the bench, though, one of Solomon or James could play 45-60 minutes, with Wilfried Gnonto moving central and Aaronson coming on as a late substitute to impact the game.
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