‘Growing’… Daniel Farke says two Leeds United players have really stepped up in the last few weeks

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Leeds United’s squad has been a little stretched recently due to both injuries and play departures.

The Whites are two men lighter from how they started the window with both Luke Ayling and Djed Spence having left, while the likes of Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk and Sam Byram have missed matches through injury.

As a result of the injuries at the back, Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon have formed a new centre-back partnership, but it is the former’s positional change which has handed an opportunity elsewhere.

Both Junior Firpo and Ilia Gruev have started the last two matches in all competitions, with the former having also played of the majority of the 3-0 win over Birmingham City on New Year’s Day due to Byram’s injury.

Firpo has provided three assists in as many matches since the turn of the new year, while Gruev’s best display in a Leeds shirt came at Cardiff City last weekend.

Speaking in his pre-Preston North End press conference, Daniel Farke believes both have stepped up to the plate in the absence of others.

Farke praises Gruev and Firpo form

He said: “Not a concern. We know we have a quality group. We know we could do with some defensive additions. I’m not too concerned because in the last weeks, it was a chance for other players to step up.

“Like Junior Firpo. I think you see him growing from game-to-game, or Ilia Gruev who was fantastic last two games. I won’t lie, a few additions in defence would be ideal.

“We won’t do business out of panicked reasons. It has to make sense for us. We’re working a lot to make something happen in the background. If not, we go with what we’ve got.”

Gruev has had to be really patient for his opportunity at Leeds, having started just one match across the entirety of the first half of the season.

However, there is a reason Farke wanted him so badly, and that Leeds had to beat Ajax to his signature, and it is good to finally see him show his ability.

Firpo, meanwhile, missed almost the entirety of the first five months of the season due to injury, but a run in the side over the last few weeks has seen him show what he can offer, especially in attack.