Leeds United are back in action on the weekend and go up against Swansea City in North Wales in the first of five games within 16 days, and Daniel Farke has received a boost regarding Wilfried Gnonto.
Leeds go to Swansea after the final international break of the year. Daniel Farke will want his players fit and raring to go ahead of a busy Christmas period, with Leeds playing five times before December 10.
Farke’s men go to North Wales on the weekend before taking on Luton Town, Blackburn Rovers, Derby County and then Luke Ayling’s Middlesbrough. LeedsUnited.News predict Leeds will secure 10 points.
Currently, Leeds have three players out injured in Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev and Largie Ramazani. But, the Whites will hope that is extent of their injury concerns and Farke has received a boost in Wilfried Gnonto.
Wilfried Gnonto only plays in second half for Italy’s Under-21 side
The 13-time Italy international continues to play for his country’s second string at the moment, biding his time before a senior opportunity presents itself again. On Tuesday, Gnonto and the 21’s faced Ukraine.
Gnonto has started Italy U21’s last eight games, but surprisingly and to the delight of Farke, Gnonto was on the bench against Ukraine. The Leeds attacker was only used for the final 32 minutes of the match.
Italy looked like set to beat Ukraine 2-1 thanks to goals from Bologna’s Giovanni Fabbian and Inter’s on-loan ace Francesco Pio Esposito, cancelling out a goal from Rukh Lviv’s attacker Illya Kvasnytsya.
However, Kvasnytsya’s club teammate Ihor Krasnopir netted on 85 minutes to make it 2-2.
Daniel Farke will be pleasantly surprised with international break
In the past, Farke has been frustrated with timings of matches and his Leeds players being exerted more than he might have hoped. Last break, Leeds returned with a Friday night fixture against Sheffield United.
Brenden Aaronson played every single minute for Mauricio Pochettino’s USA last time. This time around, Max Wober played his first minutes since the start of September, getting some game time for Austria.
Elsewhere, Junior Firpo played all 90 minutes of the Dominican Republic’s 6-1 win over Antigua and Barbusa. Normally a worry, but Firpo is banned for the next two games and he is keeping match fit.
This time around, Aaronson missed USA’s first of two matches against Jamaica through illness and in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Aaronson played less than 30 minutes for USA meaning he will be fresh.
The same goes for Gnonto and with Leeds not playing until Sunday, The Whites’ international players will have plenty of time to rest and recover before taking on Joe Rodon, Dan James and Joel Piroe’s old side.
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