Javi Gracia now forced to sweat as Leeds United ace Max Wober hit by injury on Austria duty
Leeds United boss Javi Gracia will be made to sweat over the fitness of Max Wober after the defender picked up a fresh thigh injury on Friday 24 March in Austria’s win over Azerbaijan.
Austrian newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten [25 March, pg 19] reported that the Elland Road January signing was forced off early on 33 minutes but luckily had no impact on his team.
And Gracia will certainly be keeping a close eye on developments, with the hope that the news is more precautionary than a big issue given his form alongside Robin Koch.
The 25-year-old has been an ever-present for the Whites since completing his £11m transfer [3 January] from Red Bull Salzburg in the January transfer window, playing 13 times and conceding just 11 goals in that period.
Yorkshire evening post journalist Graham Smyth tweeted on Friday night [24 March] that Wober could be holding a “minor injury”, however, with little information as to the injury of the Whites’ key man, this could well prove a bitter blow to Gracia and the club as they approach a crucial run of games in their quest for Premier League survival.
The Whites have been impressive since the Spanaird’s arrival last month, picking up seven points out of a possible 12 and that has certainly coincided with the brilliant form and solidity of both Wober and Koch as Gracia’s trusted defensive pairing.
The Austrian international has played a hand in two clean sheets since his move, averaging 1.7 interceptions per game, 1.6 tackles per game and an astonishing 3.8 clearances so far this season [SofaScore] highlighting his engaging defensive efforts at the heart of the Leeds defence.
Wober has also won an impressive 63% of his ground duels and 54% of his aerial duels again highlighting his qualities both in the air and on the ground when defending.
If the Austrian international has picked up an injury and is subsequently set for a spell on the sidelines, it could not have come at a worse time for Leeds United.
With an incredibly tough test against league leaders Arsenal coming up 1 April followed by crucial home games against relegation rivals Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, having Wober fully fit and firing will be imperative to any success the Whites hope of achieving.
Gracia will be having sleepless nights until this weekend, hoping his key defensive stalwart will be fit for the upcoming pivotal run-in.
In other Leeds news, the club are ready to offer one key first-team player a new contract.
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