By Joe Ellis

7th Dec, 2022 | 6:10pm

Robin Koch absent from Leeds United training in Spain as precaution

Robin Koch was not present for training on day four of the Leeds United tour of Spain due to a slight injury, according to Leeds Live.

The German international felt a small tweak during Tuesday’s session (6 December) and chose not to risk aggravating anything by sitting out of another intense session on Wednesday (7 December).

The 26-year-old is still in line to play some part in Leeds’ friendly against Elche on Thursday (8 December) though having not been selected for Germany World Cup squad.

Junior Firpo remained out of the reckoning after his own knock only saw him land in Spain on Tuesday following extra work at Thorp Arch before jetting out to Oliva.

Diego Llorente is another defender with injury issues after he underwent surgery for a fractured hand and ergo sat out of any contact work as Jesse Marsch set about putting his squad through their paces.

No risk

If any club knows how quickly injuries can pile up in modern-day football, it’s Leeds United who saw so many senior players out that Marcelo Bielsa only had eight or nine available for many of his final games at Elland Road.

Marsch would like to avoid that same problem during his era as the club’s manager and he therefore won’t be seen taking any unnecessary risks with anybody.

Had this happened a day before Leeds were due to play Manchester City then he might have risked Koch anyway with the rest of the week following to recover.

But it’s only a training camp and these friendlies are only there to get some fitness into the squad so Koch won’t be left far behind if he has to sit out the Elche game.

He may have only played a half anyway with a lot of players on tour and keen to get game time wherever they can.

In other Leeds United news, the parents of this youngster have joined him in moving to the UK after Victor Orta convinced him to Elland Road.