Leeds United will look to maintain their winning run when they face Sheffield Wednesday in their next Championship game on Friday night.
Ahead of the match, Daniel Farke has confirmed that apart from Jaidon Anthony, he has no other major injury issues.
In the pre-match press conference, Farke was asked to share an update on Pascal Struijk who hasn’t played for over two months.
Farke suggested that the 24-year-old defender is a “key player” for the club; getting him back towards the end of the season, and that too in proper shape will be massive for the Whites as they are aiming for an automatic promotion.
The versatile defender often took the captain’s armband this season, and he has been simply outstanding for the Whites. He has made 22 starts in the Championship and has scored five goals for Leeds in all competitions this season.
Farke expects him to return to the side after the international break. He has confirmed that the Dutch defender is progressing well is “definitely good news” for the cub.
“It feels crazy that in the last two months we never spoke about him and thank God we didn’t because our defence was spot on,” said Farke.
“He has worn the armband often this season. A cornerstone for our future. It’s not like he will be back in his best shape on day one.
“He is such a key player. Not far from team training, back in that at the latest towards the end of the break. That’s definitely good news.”
Leeds will be boosted by the return of Pascal Struijk
It will be a massive boost for the Whites to get Struijk back into the side after the international break. He forged a strong partnership with Joe Rodon at the back before he got injured.
However, Leeds enjoyed their best spell in the Championship this season after he got injured. The partnership of Rodon and Ethan Ampadu simply flourished as the Whites managed 10 wins and a draw in 11 Championship games in a row.
It won’t be easy for the Dutch defender to get into the starting line-up straight away. Moreover, he needs to get back to his full sharpness, and Farke will probably use him from the bench initially before he can draft him into the starting line-up when the time is right.
It is not always a good idea to break the winning combination and Struijk may have to wait for his chances. At the same time, he is an important player and can make a big impact in the final few games of the season.
