Daniel Farke amazed by ‘fantastic’ Leeds United staff as Pascal Struijk update emerges
Daniel Farke has voiced his delight at the quality and skill of his Leeds United backroom staff to get one of his key players back to full fitness.
It was announced before the international break that Leeds United’s Pascal Struijk would need to undergo surgery on two painful hernias, with the defender playing through the pain in recent weeks. His return date was relatively unknown.
However, Farke’s revealed in a recent press conference that the 24-year-old has already returned to the squad and could make an appearance on Friday night against Rotherham United.
The Leeds manager has praised his background staff for working tirelessly behind the scenes, aiding the club’s ability to push for promotion back to the Premier League this season.
“We have top-class physios,” he stated, as quoted by LeedsLive on 23 November. “It doesn’t always go smoothly but I think my medicine department is doing a fantastic job.
“Pascal is a player who is very professional to support his road back and that’s a nice little boost. It’s credit to our medicine department, sports science and physios.
“It would be an easy life for a coach without setbacks.”
A crucial player returns
Struijk has been integral for the Whites so far, playing every minute of this league season, apart from Leeds’ latest win over Plymouth Argyle.
The defender has helped Leeds to keep six clean sheets in a feisty Championship campaign so far, leading his side to vital victories over fellow promotion hopefuls Leicester City and Ipswich Town.
Struijk has also been entrusted with the captain’s armband, with experienced Liam Cooper, Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford being demoted to the bench.
The Dutchman has formed an unbreakable bond with Welshman Joe Rodon, with Leeds claiming victory in six of their last seven matches. The pair have kept Cooper out of the squad, but were forced to replace the injured Struijk with him last time out.
Struijk is not just important to Leeds’ defensive capabilities, but also building up the attack from the back. The defender has the second-best passing rate in the entire squad and is also a threat at set pieces, which he proved with a superbly-taken goal against Southampton.
In other Leeds United news, Andrea Radrizzani has opened up on “mistakes” he made at Leeds.