Leeds United will be looking to maintain their impressive form after the international break when they face Watford in the Championship on Friday at Vicarage Road.
The Whites remain unbeaten in 2024, having picked up 12 wins and a draw from their last 13 games in the Championship. Daniel Farke will hope to get all his key players back for this game as they push again for automatic promotion.
According to Yorkshire Evening Post journalist, Joe Donnohue, Leeds will once again be without Pascal Struijk for this game. The Dutchman spent the last three months on the sidelines with a hip issue. However, he may require surgery which could rule him out for the rest of the campaign.
Farke said on March 15 that Struijk’s situation is complicated. At the moment, the defender has been undergoing injection therapy. The YEP journalist has claimed that the defender is unavailable for the trip to Vicarage Road.
Leeds United have enough depth in their squad
Donnohue wrote: “Farke will reveal the decision which has been taken with regard to Struijk’s situation during this week’s pre-match press conference ahead of Leeds’ visit to Watford on Good Friday.
“Needless to say, the Dutchman is unavailable for the trip to Vicarage Road and even if progress has been made with the conservative route, Struijk’s return to the pitch will not be immediate, due to the length of his absence to date.”
Leeds suffered a big blow when Struijk got injured. He was doing exceptionally well at the back, and his partnership with Joe Rodon was the main talking point.
After the 24-year-old got injured, Farke used Ethan Ampadu at the back, and the move proved to be a masterstroke. The partnership of Ampadu and Rodon has blossomed and it has helped the Whites to move to the top of the table.
They have looked unbeatable at the moment, and Struijk’s absence hasn’t been felt. So, in all probability, Farke can afford to give the Dutchman enough time to recover.
Leeds also have Charlie Cresswell and Liam Cooper as two reliable back-up options, and they are well stocked in that department.
