Daniel Farke delivered mixed news on the injury front ahead of Leeds United’s trip to Plymouth Argyle tomorrow.
The Whites were without six players during the midweek win over Swansea City, including Patrick Bamford, who was forced to pull out in the warm-up and will now miss 10-12 days.
Sam Byram and Pascal Struijk are among the other key men who will be missing at Home Park, but there is better news regarding the availability of Jamie Shackleton.
Shackleton had recovered from injury before Tuesday’s trip to South Wales but was absent from the squad due to the birth of his first child earlier this week.
But speaking in his pre-match press conference, Farke has confirmed Shackleton is back in contention to be in the squad tomorrow lunchtime, but did joke he is a little ‘tired’ after the week’s events.
Shackleton in contention for Plymouth trip
“It’s good that we have one more in our corner. He is of course a bit tired and a very happy man, good to have him back.”
Shackleton has not always made the bench even when over the course of the season, but given Byram‘s absence, it would be a bit surprising if he was left out for this match.
Leeds do not have a natural replacement for Junior Firpo if he was to get injured and Shackleton is arguably the closest to that given he played there a few times earlier in the season.
However, the 24-year-old may find game time harder to come by on the other side, with Archie Gray continuing to impress and new signing Connor Roberts eager to make his full debut.
Either way, it is a positive having Shackleton back available as another option even if he isn’t a realistic option to start the game.
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