Daniel Farke held his first press conference on Thursday afternoon ahead of Leeds United’s clash against Portsmouth at Elland Road, and he delivered an injury update on his squad.
Farke embarks on his second season as Leeds manager and the pressure is on the German to get The Whites up. The German gaffer watched Leeds lose to Southampton in the final at Wembley last term.
This season sees Farke have an entire summer at Elland Road, and a whole lot less chaos than a year ago. Last summer saw Farke deal with a takeover, change of manager, and players desperate to leave Leeds.
This time around, it has not been as manic even with the departures of Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray and Glen Kamara. Leeds secured four wins from four in pre-season, including the win over Valencia.
Daniel Farke delivers Leeds injury update ahead of Portsmouth
Jayden Bogle limped off the field of play last Saturday as Leeds secured a 2-1 win against La Liga side Valencia, with the Spaniards resorting to fouling and trying to rile up the Leeds players in Yorkshire.
Farke reported a dead leg after the match, but the new signings is fit and rating to go according to Farke in his first press conference of the season on Leeds’ YouTube. In fact, he says everyone is fit and ready.
“Everyone is available, it’s good news. Rarely had this situation in my life as a manager that everyone is ready, fit and raring to go,” Farke spoke to reporters in his press conference on Thursday afternoon.
“I’m a bit surprised that when we work as hard as we have done, you normally have one or two muscle injuries. Credit to our physios and sports science. Jayden Bogle had a dead leg, but he’s ready to go.”
Bogle at right-back, Pascal Struijk in defence with Joe Rodon
So, who starts in Leeds’ first game of the season? It is hard to see Farke going with anything but the eleven he used against Valencia. French ace Illan Meslier will obviously start for Leeds between the sticks.
Bogle at right-back is a no-brainer if 100% fit, while Pascal Struijk looks set to partner Joe Rodon with Junior Firpo on the left. Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu look set to form a new midfield partnership.
Willy Gnonto on the left and Dan James on the right, with Georgiio Rutter behind Mateo Joseph. It would be a surprise to see anything else, meaning Brenden Aaronson, Max Wober and Joe Rothwell sit out.
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