Journalist suggests Archie Gray may be dropped for next Leeds United game
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke may be forced to leave Archie Gray out of his starting line-up to face Norwich City this coming weekend, according to Beren Cross.
Gray played a full part in all three of England Under-19s’ fixtures during the international break, totalling more than 270 minutes on the field.
The 17-year-old has also been a regular for Leeds this season, but Cross believes there is a chance he will be left out against Norwich due to his intense workload.
Writing for the Yorkshire Evening Post‘s online edition on Wednesday (18 October), Cross said: “Farke and Rob Price, head of medicine and performance, will need to review Gray upon his return to Thorp Arch.
“But it would be understandable if they felt it may push the youngster too far if he started on Saturday in Norfolk.
“It would be a shame to see Farke denied the chance to try Gray at right-back again in the next match.”
Be careful
With his 18th birthday still five months off, nobody would have expected Gray to have played as often as he has this season.
The teenager has started 11 of Leeds’ 12 matches in all competitions and featured from the substitutes’ bench in the other two.
In fact, Gray’s 830 minutes in the Championship this season is the third most of any outfield United player [Soccerway], going a long way to highlighting his importance.
Not only has the academy product been a key cog in central midfield, he also filled in at right-back against Bristol City last time out.
As ever, Gray put in a strong display and was in contention to start there once again against Norwich, but Farke may now have a rethink.
There is a hectic run of fixtures coming up for the Whites, and Farke will know he cannot risk one of his key players sustaining an injury.
It would therefore make sense to utilise one of Glen Kamara or Ilia Gruev alongside Ethan Ampadu, and Luke Ayling at right-back.
In the longer-term, Leeds may well have a word with England U19s over Gray’s workload, as the last thing they need is for him to suffer burn-out.
In other Leeds United news, a celebrity supporter has questioned a “very strange” decision regarding a Whites player during the international break.