Ethan Ampadu was back on Leeds United’s bench on Saturday afternoon against Derby County and now Daniel Farke has received a positive injury update regarding another Elland Road star.
Leeds suffered a midfield crisis earlier this season, when Ampadu was forced off the field of play just before half-time against Coventry City. Then, in the next game, Ilia Gruev got injured against Norwich.
It has seen Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell form a formidable midfield partnership under Daniel Farke. So much so that Stuart Dallas believes Farke will have a headache when it comes to picking his midfield.
That is of course, when Ampadu and Gruev return with Josuha Guilavogui also on the books after the Frenchman was signed to provide cover. Now, a new update from Bulgarian media on midfielder Gruev.
Bulgarian media deliver big new update on Leeds man Ilia Gruev
With Ampadu back on the bench and closing in on a return, Farke will have also been delighted over the course of the past week to see Gruev making big strides towards a return from his long-term knee issue.
A report from Bulgarian outlet 24 Chasa says that two months after surgery at London’s King College Hospital, Gruev is back on the grass and kicking a ball around albeit away from the rest of the Leeds side.
Leeds Live recently said Gruev would be back in March, but 24 Chasa say it is more likely to be in the middle of January when Farke will be able to call on Gruev again. A huge boost for the Leeds manager.
Who starts for Leeds in midfield when all four are available?
The 1-0 defeat to Blackburn saw Rothwell and Tanaka really struggle. It was easily Tanaka’s worst game in a Leeds shirt while Rothwell went missing for large moments against his old side over at Ewood Park.
But against Derby, Simon Grayson was impressed by Tanaka and Rothwell churned out a man-of-the match display with Ampadu’s return to the bench maybe reminding the duo their place is under threat.
There is no doubting that a fully fit Ampadu starts for Leeds, given he is the club’s captain. But who goes next to him? The likelihood is Tanaka at this stage but with Gruev also returning, it is all to play for.
Gruev’s return to the grass which seems to be ahead of schedule will be a real boost for Farke as Leeds enter a busy Christmas period, and his availability will feel like a new signing come the January window.
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