Daniel Farke has shared some “mixed” team news ahead of this weekend’s Championship clash between Leeds United and Preston North End.
The Whites face Preston at Deepdale looking to add to their three successive victories to begin 2024, all by the same 3-0 scoreline.
United may make changes on the back of last weekend’s win at Cardiff City as some players are back, while other are expected to miss out.
Speaking to reporters on the eve of the game on Friday [19 January], as per Leeds’ official Twitter account, Farke said: “I have some mixed news.”
“It’s good news on Sam Byram – he’s in full training now and fully available. Struijk is in training but not back fully yet so won’t be available.
Willy Gnonto is a major doubt because he has a problem with his hip flexor. Liam Cooper is also back in training and in contention.”
This has to be considered a positive update on the whole. Gnonto possibly being out is a minor blow at best, as he has struggled to break into the team anyway.
Byram’s return to full fitness is a big plus, especially as Junior Firpo limped off against Cardiff last week – albeit Farke played down the severity of that problem at the time.
Struijk being close to a return to competitive action is also great news, but Farke did warn he is unlikely to play in any of the next three matches for Leeds.
Finally, Cooper’s possible return is another tick in the ‘good news’ column. Ethan Ampadu has had to fill in at centre-back and, while that experiment has worked, Farke will want as many regulars back as possible.
There may have been a lack of activity in the January transfer window thus far, but at least returning players are helping to bolster Farke’s options.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay says a club was reluctant to sell a player to the Whites last summer.
