Daniel Farke shares Sam Byram injury update ahead of Leeds United playoff clash v Southampton
Leeds United defender Sam Byram has returned to training and will be available to face Southampton in the playoff final, according to Daniel Farke.
The versatile defender missed the second leg of the Whites’ semi-final clash with Norwich City through injury, having played the entirety of the first match, with Archie Gray deputising as he often has at right back.
While the Leeds boss confirmed that he will still be without Patrick Bamford for Sunday’s (26 May) showdown, he has no other fresh fitness concerns with Pascal Struijk the only other first-team star sidelined.
Speaking in a press conference on Friday (24 May) he said: “It seems every other player will be available including Sam Byram, he returned to team training yesterday.
“Apart from Patrick and Pascal, everyone else is fit.”
Will Leeds United and Daniel Farke start Sam Byram against Southampton at Wembley?
Leeds United were excellent in their semi-final win over Norwich at Elland Road and Farke may be reluctant to stray too far away from the formula that served him so well against the Canaries last time out.
Particularly as Gray received plenty of praise from pundits and supporters alike for his display at right-back with some commentators comparing his work with and without the ball to some of the best defenders of all time.
Because of that, Farke may want to continue with the teenager in defence. However, Byram’s return to fitness at least means the German now has options to choose from and could potentially surprise Saints boss Russell Martin.
Byram could even replace Junior Firpo at left-back for Sunday’s Wembley final, especially after the defender had a nightmare on the final day of the season against Southampton. Farke could well opt to take him out of the firing line.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have been tipped to sack Farke if they lose the playoff final clash with Southampton
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