BBC journalist shocked by ‘mental’ Pascal Struijk news after what Adam Pope saw at Leeds United training ground before Rotherham
Pascal Struijk’s fast return from hernia surgery to be in contention as Leeds United face Rotherham on Friday night (24 November) has left Adam Pope and colleagues stunned.
Speaking on Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet on 22 November the BBC journalist reported that he had seen the defender walking around after training in an “amazing” turn of events, as Jonny Buchan claimed it was “mental” to have recovered that quickly.
Daniel Farke revealed in his pre-match press conference that the 24-year-old was one of a group including Sam Byram, Jamie Shackleton, Djed Spence and Joe Gelhardt who have all had fitness problems but could be back this week.
Pope said (4m 20s): “Amazing, Pascal Struijk after a hernia was training today… all five under consideration but late calls ahead of Friday.”
“That’s mental that Pascal Struijk [could play],” Buchan responded.
Simon Rix then added: “If he plays on Friday that’s like a miracle, a medical miracle.”
“It is isn’t it?” agreed Pope, “I did see, I promise you, with my own eyes I saw Pascal Struijk walking in his tracksuit post-training today, so, Lazarus.”
Timely
Farke had made clear when he originally revealed Struijk’s absence that it was minor hernia surgery but even so it is great news for the Whites that he could be back already.
His partnership with Joe Rodon has arguably been the bedrock on which the strong Leeds United form has been built this season so the pair being reunited as soon as possible is a bonus.
And with the news that star man Georginio Rutter is expected to miss out Farke could do with as many positive developments elsewhere to try to balance things out.
With three games in just over a week coming out of the international break the Whites have a chance to consolidate their run of results and put real pressure on Leicester and Ipswich above them.
A trip to a Rotherham side currently in the relegation zone is, on paper, a good way to ease back into action but at the same time a primetime away game against a side which might be minded to sit deep, without arguably the brightest creative spark in the squad, has the potential for a slip up.
However, if Struijk and Byram are both back in the line up the chances of that should be significantly reduced so on balance the injury news is still positive.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites’ FFP forecast has seen the 49ers now tipped to “flex their muscles” in January.