Daniel Farke can breathe Leeds United sigh of relief at Max Wober update today
Max Wober being left on the bench by Austria will have pleased Daniel Farke as the Leeds United defender continues his recovery from injury.
Austria’s 2-0 away win over Kazakhstan saw Wober remain amongst the substitutes on 14 November; had he entered the fray, it would have been his first on-field action in over two months.
Wober’s recall to the international setup raised some eyebrows – none higher than Farke’s – given a meniscus injury has prevented him featuring for the Whites since his solitary appearance on 14 August.
With Wober himself saying that his main focus is to get back fit and firing for United in the Championship promotion race [Kurier, 11 November], Farke will certainly be pleased that his match fitness wasn’t risked by Ralf Rangnick.
Max Wober injury return surely on the cards at Leeds United
While there is an argument to suggest that getting much-needed game-time would do wonders for Wober’s sharpness over the international break, Farke would much prefer himself to be the judge of that.
Given the 26-year-old hasn’t kicked a ball in three months for the Whites – and only returned to training following surgery a matter of weeks ago – he needs to be eased back into the first team at Elland Road.
A home game against Slovenia on 17 November may be the one in which Wober finally makes his long-awaited on-field return, but Farke will have his fingers crossed that the defender is not overburdened.
With 23 matches until the next international break, Farke needs as many players as possible to be fit for the Championship’s longest stretch, particularly with Joe Rodon one booking away from a suspension.
Wober’s calling card could come sooner than he expects at Elland Road, and it remains to be seen if his spell away from Thorp Arch with Austria has a positive or detrimental effect on his recovery.
In other Leeds news, Graham Smyth identified an area which the club’s new-look recruitment team need to get right in January.
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