Leeds United can now firmly switch their focus towards a return to Championship action against Swansea City this weekend with the final international break of 2024 now over.
It has been a nervy couple of weeks for Daniel Farke as several members of his first team squad jetted all across the world to represent their respective countries.
No side in the division has had more international representatives than Leeds this month, but thankfully it appears they will all be returning with a clean bill of health.
Leeds have an extra 43 hours of preparation for their trip to Swansea in comparison to last month against Sheffield United, meaning there should be no excuses for any tired legs.
Here is a round-up of how many minutes every Leeds first team player played.
Karl Darlow – 90 minutes
Leeds’ second choice ‘keeper Karl Darlow is unlikely to be required this weekend but it has certainly been another productive international window for him with Wales.
Darlow impressed in Wales’ 0-0 draw in Turkey on Saturday but was dropped to the bench for the 4-1 win over Iceland last night, with Craig Bellamy still seemingly unsure on who his number one is.
Joe Rodon – 180 minutes
Darlow’s international teammate Joe Rodon was unsurprisingly required to play every minute of both of Wales’ matches this month.
It has certainly been a landmark week in the career of Rodon as he was handed his 50th Wales cap against Iceland.
Max Wober – 90 minutes
Max Wober was named in the Austria squad by Ralf Rangnick due to their apparent shortage at centre-back, despite his distinct lack of minutes for Leeds.
After being an unused sub in the win at Kazakhstan, Wober got a much needed 90 minutes in the legs in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Slovenia.
Junior Firpo – 180 minutes
The star man of international football in the Dominican Republic Junior Firpo was another Leeds player who played every minute of both of his country’s matches.
Firpo helped the Dominican Republic make history by qualifying for the Gold Cup with back-to-back 6-1 wins over Bermuda, registering two assists in the second game.
Ao Tanaka – 90 minutes
After such a busy period of football for Leeds, Farke will be pleased Ao Tanaka was able to get some sort of a rest for Japan.
Tanaka was an unused sub in Japan’s first match in Indonesia, before then playing the full match of Tuesday’s win in China.
Charlie Crew – 0 minutes
Having initially been named in Wales’ U21s squad for the November break, Charlie Crew was promoted to the senior side by Craig Bellamy. However, perhaps unsurprisingly, he didn’t manage a single minute.
Brenden Aaronson – 21 minutes
Brenden Aaronson was pushed to his absolute limits in the last international break ahead of the clash with Sheffield United, but it has been a considerably quieter time away with USA this time around.
Aaronson missed USA’s first match due to illness but was back in the squad for the return fixture with Jamaica, coming on as a second half substitute.
Wilfried Gnonto – 105 minutes
With Italy U21s securing their passage to next summer EUROs in October, Wilfried Gnonto and his young Azzurri teammates were in friendly action this time around.
As such, there was rotation across both matches, with Gnonto playing 73 minutes in the first one, and 32 in the second.
Manor Solomon – 162 minutes
As the star man of Israel international football it was always going to be a busy break for Manor Solomon, particularly after he missed the October fixtures.
Having struggled in Israel’s 0-0 draw with France first up, Solomon then impressed at left-wing-back in the 1-0 win over Belgium, playing the full 90 minutes.
Dan James – 118 minutes
Dan James was back in the Wales squad for the first time this season after missing out with hamstring injuries in the previous two.
After coming on as a half time sub away at Turkey, James played 73 minutes of Wales’ win over Iceland last night.
Mateo Joseph – 127 minutes
With Samu Aghehowa, the striker he competes for a place in Spain U21s’ starting XI with, in the senior squad this month, Mateo Joseph was handed two starts.
He got just over an hour across both matches, scoring the winner in Spain’s 2-1 win over Denmark on Tuesday evening.
Sam Chambers – 137 minutes
Scotland U19s were in action three times over the break and so Leeds talent Sam Chambers saw his minutes spread across each of them.
He came off the bench in matches against Wales and France, either side of a positive display in the win over Liechtenstein.
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