Rotherham clash may have come ‘too soon’ for Leeds United duo Pascal Struijk and Sam Byram – Graham Smyth
Graham Smyth believes the clash between Leeds United and Rotherham may have come “too soon” for either Pascal Struijk or Sam Byram to be involved.
Struijk missed the Whites match with Plymouth Argyle with a hernia injury, while Byram was substituted late with a hamstring problem, but Daniel Farke confirmed that both players had returned to first-team training ahead of Friday’s (24 November) meeting with Rotherham.
Despite both players appearing to be in consideration for the squad, Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Smyth doesn’t believe Farke should risk either player at the New York Stadium.
Speaking on the Inside Elland Road podcast (23 November, 4:10) he said: “Byram and Struijk are only just back, they had their first training session yesterday I believe. Byram a hamstring problem, sustained in the Plymouth game.
“Pascal’s hernia or hernias are fixed by a surgeon and he has come back sooner than expected to team training.
“I think it might be a bit too soon for either of them for Friday night’s game. If you had one team training session on Wednesday, I just feel like why would you risk either of them?
“You’re not desperate, you’ve got Junior Firpo who can play left-back, you’ve got Liam Cooper who can play centre-back. I wouldn’t risk them personally.”
Should have enough
As Smyth suggested, Farke has plenty of depth and genuine quality in that depth to be able to allow both Struijk and Byram the chance to rest and recover from their injuries, rather than immediately needing to rush them back into action to start against Rotherham.
Although both players have been in exceptional form so far this season, the last thing Leeds United or Farke want is to lose them for even longer because they aggravate their injuries and leave themselves sidelined for an extended period of time.
Firpo should be fresh and ready for action having had two weeks of training since making his return to action against Plymouth Argyle. Before the season got underway, many expected him to excel in the Championship having shown glimpses of his quality in the Premier League.
Cooper has provided a steady even if slightly unremarkable presence at the heart of defence when he has been called upon at Elland Road. Against Rotherham who are floundering towards the foot of the Championship table, the pair will provide a solid enough platform to help the Whites take all three points at the New York Stadium.
In other Leeds United news, Italian media have been left stunned by Wilfried Gnonto’s “spectacular” performance against Ireland