Daniel Farke will be fuming at Leeds United after Maximilian Wober international development
Maximilian Wober being called up by Austria despite not playing for Leeds United since August won’t be looked on kindly by Daniel Farke.
The Austrian Football Association posted on X (5 November) their 22-player squad for matches against Kazakhstan and Slovenia in the UEFA Nations League this month, including Wober.
Wober’s only appearance so far this season came in the EFL Cup first round against Middlesbrough, with a subsequent meniscus injury requiring surgery and the 26-year-old only returned to training this week.
However, that return to training – but not necessarily match fitness – has led to Ralf Rangnick naming Wober in his latest Austria squad, leaving the defender open to potentially suffering a further setback.
Daniel Farke needs Maximilian Wober fit and firing for Leeds United
If Wober does pick up an injury while away with Austria – having not played for his club in almost three months – and ends up going back to square one once again, Farke will be well within his rights to seethe.
Although Wober remains unlikely to make his comeback in the United first-team before the international break, a two-week break allowing him to get fully up to speed would have been a perfect scenario.
Instead, being thrown into Rangnick’s high-octane style of football away in Kazakhstan could be hugely detrimental for a player sorely lacking match fitness, and result in Wober’s return being back-dated.
Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk have excelled at centre-back in the Austrian’s absence this season, but Wober’s versatility to play left-back and perhaps even in midfield would be ideal for Farke at present [Graham Smyth, 10 October].
It remains to be seen if Wober gets on the pitch or not during the international break for his country, but if he does, United fans can be sure that Farke will be watching from behind the sofa with bated breath.
In other Leeds news, one pundit has told Farke’s United side to be ready for a “battle” when they face Millwall on Wednesday.
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