Max Wober tipped for Leeds United position change upon return from injury
Graham Smyth and Joe Donnohue have discussed the possibility of Max Wober being utilised as a defensive midfielder for Leeds United.
This comes after Daniel Farke was handed a double injury blow by Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev, both emerging within a matter of days, leaving just Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell as the only senior centre midfielders.
Wober, after just one appearance, has also suffered his own injury, undergoing surgery to remove a cyst on his meniscus [LAOLA1, 1 October] and has been tipped to be out of training until mid-November by Dr Rajpal Brar.
Speaking via the Inside Elland Road podcast [10 October], Donnohue said: “Once Max Wober returns to the fold, which could be weeks, do you envisage him being able to play in the defensive midfield role?”
In response, Smyth said: “Interesting… I can tell you that he played defensive midfield three times in the group stages of the U21s European championship in 19/20, getting a goal and assist in those three games – two 4-0 wins and a 3-2 defeat.
“Then, playing for Rapid Vienna II, he played defensive midfield in a 2-0 win for 90 minutes and also did the same in the Europa League against Genk but that was in 2016.
“I don’t want to underestimate the Championship and suggest that just because he’s played at a higher level, he can do a job there. I don’t know. He probably has the technical ability to do so because he’s quite a good passer and he has the defensive capabilities. Maybe.”
Max Wober to deputise as defensive midfielder for Leeds United?
Given Smyth’s research of Wober’s playing background, there are certainly worse players that Farke could choose to rotate in the centre of midfield alongside Tanaka and Rothwell.
While Brenden Aaronson has been known to drop from his natural attacking role, the American’s lack of defensive capabilities suggests he would add a weakness to the middle of the park, not help.
The 26-year-old is not the most favourable figure at Elland Road, having joined Borussia Monchengladbach as Leeds were relegated from the Premier League, but has since returned to Farke’s squad.
With 29 international caps for Austria, becoming a regular for his national team, mixed with Bundesliga, Champions League and Europa League appearances, it is certainly an interesting point.
Farke is rarely a manager to experiment on the pitch but desperate times call for desperate measures, and depending on how available Ampadu is at Christmas time, Wober could be depended on to be a team player.
In other Leeds United news, Sky Sports pundits have been slammed after what they said about a “quality” Elland Road star recently.
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