Leeds United player’s dismal run with National Team continues, Elland Road star now winless in 12 months

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Leeds United have an array of players currently on national duty, especially having signed eight players with caps for their country during the summer transfer window.

Only Sean Longstaff and Lucas Perri have yet to win a cap for their country, but even Perri has been linked with a Brazil call-up in recent months. Jaka Bijol and Gabriel Gudmundsson did battle over the weekend.

Karl Darlow and Dan James combined with deadline-day target Harry Wilson to secure a win for Wales in Kazakhstan, while Joe Rodon did not travel as the Leeds defender was observing concussion protocols.

Elsewhere, Brenden Aaronson and Willy Gnonto missed out on USA and Italy call-ups while Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu continue to recover from injury. But for Ilia Gruev, it has not been a good break.

• READ MORE: Why Harry Wilson could still play for Leeds United in the Premier League this season

Leeds star Ilia Gruev goes winless for a whole year with Bulgaria

Bulgaria are struggling as a footballing nation. Any chance of World Cup qualification is pretty much over already, after Gruev and his National Team suffered consecutive 3-0 losses to Spain and then Georgia.

A 3-0 loss to Spain is an expected result, but a 3-0 defeat to Georgia came as a blow on Sunday. Gruev was actually used as a half-time substitute instead of starting, coming on at the break for his country.

The two defeats from two games means Spain, Georgia and Turkey are left to fight it out for the top two spots. But it also sees Gruev go an entire year without a win for his National Team, a total of six matches.

Ilia Gruev’s form for Bulgaria as Leeds star struggles to inspire

The majority of Bulgaria’s players are playing in their home country. Only a rare few, such as Gruev, make it to the big leagues. Long gone are the days of Dimitar Berbatov, Stiliyan Petrov, and namesake Martin.

But that is now six games without a win for Gruev. His last win came on September 8, 2024 – a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland. Gruev was then injured for Bulgaria’s next four matches, returning in March.

Consecutive 2-1 defeats to Ireland in a two-legged play-off was followed by a 2-2 draw against Cyprus. But since then, Bulgaria have failed to score in their last three, losing to Greece, Spain and now Georgia.