Jayden Bogle 'to start on bench' for Leeds United v Everton after injury latest
Jayden Bogle could lose his race to be fit for Leeds United's Premier League opener with Everton on Monday evening.
The Elland Road outfit face the Blues on 18 August, as a top-flight outfit once again, for the first time in two years.
Bogle missed the draws with Villarreal and AC Milan with a hip flexor issue, and Daniel Farke is hoping he can count on his star defender.
If not, Isaac Schmidt can deputise for Leeds, but there are huge questions over his ability to step up to the top level in Bogle's absence.
This article contains the exclusive opinion of iconic football commentator Ian Darke.
Bogle is not ready to start for Leeds vs Everton
Bogle is facing a race against time to be in contention for the season opener, where Jack Grealish could be terrorising Leeds fans again.
He has returned to training, but there is no guarantee that he will be on the pitch for the contest.
Darke believes that Bogle may not be in the starting line-up for the clash against the Blues, as the Whites will ease him back into action.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, he said: "Well, you always want your best team on the pitch, but if he is only returning to training now after a fair length of time out, you wouldn't have thought he'd be ready to start at the weekend.
"I would think that the aim is to have him on the bench and hope he is up to speed to start the game after that one.
"I don't know what the medical report is saying, but usually that is the way of things; it takes more than a few days, and they will want to get a few minutes into him.
"They will be careful, just to build him up sensibly."
Leeds need Bogle back as soon as possible
Farke's options to replace Bogle in the team are uninspiring, especially in the top-flight.
Neither Sam Byram nor Schmidt set the world on fire in the Championship, nor in pre-season, for that matter.
- Bogle featured 44 times in the second tier last season, starting in every single appearance
- Notched six goals and four assists in the promotion campaign
- Won 54.4 per cent of ground duels and 52.3 per cent of aerial battles
The Peacocks need the former Sheffield United ace to return as soon as possible, although, as Darke states, they cannot rush him back and risk reinjury.
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