Daniel Lewis

Tue 5 December 2023 8:10, UK

Ian Poveda will miss at least three matches for Leeds United during a busy period of the season after being called up by Colombia for their upcoming friendlies.

Colombia announced on their official Twitter account late on Monday (4 December) that Poveda is part of their 21-man squad for games against Venezuela and Mexico.

The second of those matches takes place in the early hours of 17 December, meaning Poveda will miss United’s matches against Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland and Coventry City.

Colombia later posted an image of Poveda taking part in training on Monday (4 December) in a surprise development.

Six league appearances

After international breaks in September, October and November, all focus was supposed to be on club football until March.

Colombia pencilled in friendlies outside of the specified international windows, though, and Poveda was clearly happy to accept the call.

The squad named by Colombia is hardly full of recognisable names, with the likes of Luis Diaz and Jefferson Lerma nowhere to be seen.

As per FIFA rules it is not compulsory for teams to release players outside of the dates laid out by FIFA.

Poveda is not a first-team regular for Leeds, so his absence will not be felt that much, but he has still played six league games this term.

It is now expected that he will return in time for the visit of Ipswich Town in a massive match on 23 December.

While the timing is hardly ideal, Poveda’s decision to represent his country must be respected.

In other Leeds United news, a BBC commentator has shared details of something he had never previously seen during the Whites’ win over Middlesbrough.