The final international break of the season is finally over and Leeds United are back in action on Saturday, with eight games separating The Whites between promotion or the play-offs.
A total of 16 players on the Leeds books have represented their countries during the international break, from Ilia Gruev to Sam Chambers and Rory Mahady to Joe Rodon. Six of the 16 even scored goals.
But now it is business as usual for Daniel Farke’s squad as they return to action with what seems to be a foregone conclusion against a struggling Swansea side at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon, at 3pm.
Swansea have just confirmed former Leeds defender Alan Sheehan will remain in interim charge until the end of the season despite the last two of his five games in charge. Leeds will hope to make that three.
Brenden Aaronson teased in Leeds video ahead of Swansea clash
One win in four might have made the Leeds squad nervous going into Saturday’s clash but judging by a recent video uploaded by The Whites on their official channels, squad morale seems as high as ever.
A video including Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Dan James and Brenden Aaronson surfaced this week in which the quartet answered questions about the squad. Rodon said James is the fastest player at Elland Road.
But it also saw Ampadu and Rodon tease Aaronson. Asked which player could run furthest in the Leeds squad, Ampadu answered Aaronson before saying: “But it is unfair, he wears his GPS in the warm-ups.”
Aaronson replied: “Now he’s making stuff up”, before Rodon continued: “Weighs nothing, runs forever” and Ampadu said: “still running in half-time.” Aaronson replied: “That’s crazy, runs in half-time is crazy.”
Brenden Aaronson may have just been spared from Farke axe
Aaronson was hooked at half-time against QPR and replaced by Willy Gnonto, and the Italian instantly produced by creating Jayden Bogle’s goal. Farke said he was considering a start for Gnonto beforehand.
His cameo against QPR will have surely seen him start over Aaronson against QPR. But Gnonto returned early from Italy U21 duty with an injury, and Gnonto could face a few weeks on the sidelines at Leeds.
Aaronson has started the last 36 Championship games and if Gnonto is not 100% fit, it might be that Aaronson gets a reprieve and continues his incredible run of starts for Leeds when Swansea visit.
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