Leeds United’s push for promotion takes a halt over the next fortnight to make way for the third international break of the season, and one player is set to win his 50th cap.
Joe Rodon, Junior Firpo, Ao Tanaka, Wilfried Gnonto, Manor Solomon, Dan James, Karl Darlow, Mateo Joseph and others will be in action over the next fortnight – as Daniel Farke watches on nervously.
Leeds are already without injured Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev and Largie Ramazani while Firpo is banned for the next two games against Swansea and Luton, having missed the 2-0 win against QPR on Saturday.
Ampadu would be in the Wales squad had he not picked up a knee injury which is set to keep him out until the new year, although Ampadu is ahead of schedule. Rodon, Darlow and James are with Wales.
Craig Bellamy says he wanted to sign Joe Rodon on loan in 2018
Rodon, 27, has been a rock for Leeds. He has played every single minute of all 16 games for The Whites this season after completing a permanent move to Elland Road, costing a fee of £10m from Tottenham.
Despite spending less than 18 months at Leeds, Rodon has already clocked up 65 outings for Farke’s men and could well go on to reach 100 games before the season is done. For Wales, he is close to 50 caps.
Speaking to The Sun’s Phil Cadden, Wales manager Craig Bellamy described Rodon as “impressive” as the centre-back closes in on 50 caps and says he tried to sign Rodon when nearing the Oxford job in 2018.
“I’ve always been impressed by him. When he went to Spurs, I was going to go to Oxford and I wanted him on loan there. The amount of caps he has won for Wales at a very good age is impressive.”
Joe Rodon’s stats for Wales during his 48 caps after 2019 debut
Wales are in action against Turkey and Iceland over the next fortnight, starting on Saturday and then finishing next Tuesday. Sitting second in their Nations League group, Wales need a win or two this break.
Joe Rodon’s stats for Wales:
| Caps | Starts | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | Clean sheets |
| 48 | 45 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 15 |
Rodon is crucial to any success Wales have. One of the first names on the team sheet, the Leeds man will not only reach 50 caps but he has every chance of doubling that figure over he next five or six years.
But in the mean time, hopefully Leeds get a fully fit Rodon back after the break and games against both Iceland and Turkey, when the Whites go to his old side Swansea on November 24 after the break.
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