Daniel Farke says ‘rock solid’ Leeds United player could finally start league game for the first time in 18 months on Saturday

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Leeds United have picked up a couple of injury problems in the same position ahead of Saturday’s clash against Derby County and it could see a first Leeds league start for one player in 18 months.

Leeds will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday when Paul Warne’s side come to Elland Road. A Championship clash that finally reignites a rivalry not witnessed in the last four years, since 2020.

The second half of 2018-19, Marcelo Bielsa’s first campaign as Leeds manager, saw Spygate and the Championship play-off semi-finals involve Leeds and Derby, as Bielsa and Frank Lampard did battle.

Leeds got promoted the next season and Derby were relegated in 2021-22, and it meant the two sides have not done battle since. That changes on Saturday, but Daniel Farke has an issue on the left flank.

• READ MORE: Leeds player has his confidence back in training, could start against Derby

Daniel Farke says £12.5m player could finally start for Leeds again

Not just that Farke’s record against Derby is woeful, winning one of just six matches against The Rams. It is that Leeds have suffered a number of issues at left-back with Junior Firpo possibly missing on Saturday.

The defender has picked up a foot injury in training, with Sam Byram definitely ruled out. Isaac Schmidt is only just back from a hernia operation and it might mean that £12.5m-rated Max Wober starts for Leeds.

Naturally a centre-back but a left-footed once, Farke responded when asked if Wober could start. Wober was one of the eight players to jump ship but is back at Leeds and the German praised the defender.

“Natural position is centre-back. Defensive behaviour for a full-back is different from centre-back. But he is rock solid, adds physicality, strong from set-pieces, defensive and attacking. Also got a good cross.”

Max Wober career stats from left-back, played there for Salzburg

Of course, Wober was signed by his old manager Jesse Marsch to provide depth at centre-back but his first outing in a Leeds shirt came against Cardiff City in the FA Cup in defensive midfield in January 2023.

Wober’s last league start for Leeds came back in May 2023 against Tottenham, the final game of the 22-23 season. He has only started once for Leeds this season, the 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Middlesbrough.

But with Firpo and Byram potentially missing and Schmidt only just back from a hernia operation, it looks likely that Wober might start his first league game for Leeds in 18 months and Farke is ready to trust him.