Daniel Farke shares how long Pascal Struijk could be out after missing Leeds United clash vs West Brom
Graham Smyth has shared what Daniel Farke told Sky Sports about the reason for Pascal Struijk missing out for Leeds United against West Brom.
Influential defender Struijk was a surprise omission from Leeds’ matchday squad for Friday’s (29 December) Championship clash at The Hawthorns.
Farke has now confirmed that the absence is injury related, but it does not sound as though the Dutchman is facing any serious amount of time on the sidelines.
Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Smyth posted on his personal Twitter page [29 December]: “Pascal Struijk has an adductor [groin] injury.
“Daniel Farke has told Sky he doesn’t expect it to keep the defender out for too long.”
Mixed news
Being without Struijk for the clash at a sold-out Hawthorns is far from ideal, but Liam Cooper is a steady option to come in alongside Joe Rodon.
Struijk has started 22 of Leeds’ 24 matches this season, while also featuring once from the bench, so his importance to the side is pretty clear.
However, Farke has gone a long way to allaying fears that the centre-back could be out for any prolonged period with his comments to Sky.
“Too long” could mean anything from one game to a few, of course, but there is hope that this is just a minor knock.
With the games coming thick and fast at this time of the year, players have next to no time to recover from the most minor of issues.
Leeds have just one more league game to play between this clash at West Brom and the 13 January trip to Cardiff City, so Struijk has time to rest up if needs be.
For now, it is over to Cooper to step up and help Leeds to three points in the West Midlands.
In other Leeds United news, a Sky Sports pundit has raved about an “excellent” player who is spending the season away from Elland Road.