Leeds United face two more fixtures before the final international break of the year, taking on Millwall on Wednesday night before welcoming QPR to Elland Road on the weekend.
The Whites are in excellent form and everything is pointing to a brilliant spell of form ahead of the break, with Leeds sitting in second place, only three points behind leaders Sunderland before the trip to Millwall.
Then, Leeds will wave goodbye to a number of their key players before they travel to represent countries all over the world. Not just in Europe, with Ao Tanaka, Junior Firpo and Brenden Aaronson going further.
Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon and Dan James are in Wales’ squad, Wilfried Gnonto and Mateo Joseph will play for Italy and Spain’s U21 sides, and Manor Solomon will be in Israel’s squad for the November break.
Ralf Rangnick explains decision to call-up Leeds man Max Wober
In the summer, Aaronson and Max Wober returned to Leeds after loans. A cloud above their heads, but Aaronson has managed to rid himself of that criticism, and has since scored four times for Daniel Farke.
Wober though, has managed one outing since returning – the 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Middlesbrough. Knee and hamstring injuries have not helped, but he has been included in Austria’s squad this month.
Ralf Rangnick, Austria’s manager, told newspaper Kronen Zeitung why £12.5m-rated Wober has been called-up: “Max started training again at Leeds a week ago. We don’t have many options in his position.”
Wober has not played for Leeds since August, but he understands
It is perhaps a surprise given his injuries and that he is playing second fiddle to Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk. But, Rangnick is in a difficult situation and has been more forced into calling up Wober.
This is a player who has played in the Champions League, and returned to Leeds after representing his country at Euro 2024. He knows he is more worthy than a place on the bench in the Championship.
It places his long-term future in doubt, with Galatasaray said to have shown interest in Wober. But the player himself says he understands – Wober saying he would not pick himself over Rodon and Struijk.
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