Javi Gracia has admitted that there is no-one like Tyler Adams in the Leeds United squad as the Whites prepare to face Wolves without the American this weekend.
Adams handed Leeds a big blow this week. The club announced that the 24-year-old will not be involved for the USMNT during the upcoming international break after sustaining a hamstring injury.
Adams has been a stalwart of the side ever since arriving at Elland Road. And although his form has probably not been the best more recently, there is no question that he will leave a big void.
Gracia praises Adams after injury blow
The big question for Gracia will now be who could replace Adams when they travel to Molineux. We have options, with the likes of Marc Roca and Weston McKennie surely favourites to start against Julen Lopetegui’s men.
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However, Gracia conceded that finding someone who ticks the same boxes as Adams is impossible.
“He is different than others – there is nobody like Tyler. Other players are different. In this case, we have all the players ready,” he said.
“As you can see in the last games we played, we started with Tyler and Marc. The game before, Tyler and Weston. We have other players waiting for their chance – maybe this is their moment. I’m sure all of them are ready to compete at a high level.”
It may possibly be that Adams benefits from coming out of the team for a break. Certainly, we hope that that is the case.
Adams has arguably been our player of the season when you take into consideration the whole campaign. However, he has probably been a little off his best level in more recent times.
He has sometimes been a little sloppy in possession. And obviously, he is not someone who makes a really notable impact in the final third.
Both McKennie and Roca have real quality when they are at their very best. And it will be very interesting to see how the pair work together against Wolves this weekend.
Obviously, we would prefer to have Adams available. But there is probably a chance that Leeds may benefit from the summer signing being able to take a break.