‘We need him’: Daniel Farke says Leeds man played last night after one training session

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Daniel Farke has claimed Cody Drameh had just one training session before featuring in Leeds United’s 2-1 win over Shrewsbury Town.

Speaking in his post-match interview with the local press (via Leeds Live), Farke was quizzed on Drameh’s place in the squad after a bizarre day of transfer activity.

Drameh missed the final two pre-season friendlies of the summer and the Championship opener with Cardiff City on Sunday after picking up a minor hamstring injury.

The 21-year-old had been tipped to play a major role at Leeds this season but after the Whites’ failed pursuit of Max Aarons, there are now question marks over his place in the squad.

The Whites had a £12 million deal in place with Norwich City to sign Aarons, who was in Leeds set to complete a medical, before Bournemouth swooped in and hijacked the move at the 11th hour.

Farke addresses Drameh situation after Leeds return

After the game, Farke refused to comment on the situation regarding Aarons but was pleased to hand Drameh some minutes on the pitch on Wednesday after just one session back from injury.

He said: “No, so you can also try it also different ways, no comments from my side to other players and I don’t also base my answers on such a question. We need each and every player and I’m happy that Cody’s right now back. He was two weeks out injured and not available.

“Just one day of training with the team. Normally it’s not enough to make it to the game day spot. But today yeah, it was due to the situation that we had to play without several players and so we need him even a bit too early back and it’s good that he also was able to play this 10 minutes or however long he was on the pitch. And without an injury. It’s good to have him back.”

Drameh played the majority of stoppage time in the win over Shrewsbury, all be it very out of position on the left just in front of Sam Byram.

Even though Aarons will no longer be coming to Leeds, the fact they were so willing to spend heavily on a new right-back certainly does throw Drameh’s future into doubt.

He has just 12 months left on his deal at Elland Road and Premier League clubs have been linked this summer, and it will be interesting to see if it is a position Leeds look to revisit.