Ilia Gruev could be set to face brutal Leeds United axe as Journalist moots three changes for Huddersfield clash
Daniel Farke could be set to make up to three Leeds United changes for their Championship clash against Huddersfield Town on Saturday and Ilia Gruev is the most likeliest to be axed from the starting XI.
A 1-0 loss away at Stoke City on Wednesday (27 October) saw the visitors fall nine points behind the top two in the Championship table, and Farke will be looking for an instant reply with several key changes expected.
Leeds Live journalist William Jackson (26 October) mooted that changes will definitely be made for Saturday’s crucial clash at Elland Road after Farke rung the changes in their 1-0 defeat to Stoke on Wednesday (25 October).
Summer signing Gruev made his first start for the club at the Potters while Wilfried Gnonto also made a rare start at the expense of Crysencio Summerville, who started on the bench after confirmation that he picked up a knock before the clash at the Bet 365 Stadium (Joe Donnohue, 26 October).
However, the 19-year-old could be set to return for Saturday and Jackson has mooted the Dutch forward, James and Kamara to be the most likely changes at Elland Road against Darren Moore’s Terriers.
He wrote: “Changes will be made this weekend as Leeds look to end the month of October on a high. The manager spelled Glen Kamara, Crysencio Summerville and Dan James at Stoke and it seems likely that all three men will step back into the starting line-up to face Huddersfield.”
Farke made the rare call to start rarely-seen Gruev in the eleven on Wednesday, starting his first game since his summer move after three-minute-long substitute appearances since his late summer arrival. While the Whites suffered a 1-0 defeat, the former Werder Bremen midfielder made a good account of himself next at Ethan Ampadu.
Per SofaScore, the 23-year-old registered 84 per cent passing accuracy, one key pass and two tackles, showing his ability to regain possession and progress the ball up the pitch.
The 23-year-old defensive midfield was also rewarded with frank praise from Farke who identified the need at Stoke to have players who covered a lot of ground and the Bulgarian international certainly showed as such.
Farke said (via Leeds Live, 26 October): “It is always difficult when you start in a difficult away game. For this he did really well, we wanted today a player who was capable of covering a lot of ground because Ilia is always when he is involved, with 12k, this is what we want to play.
“He’s a disciplined player, tall, we needed him for the long balls and second balls, also calm in possession and for his first game it was quite a solid performance.”
Gruev had an assured starting debut, but the team around him put out a lacklustre performance that saw Leeds’ unbeaten run come to an end.
For that reason alone, Farke will certainly feel justified in his decision to recall the likes of Kamara, Summerville and James to the starting eleven which means Gruev will unfortunately be chopped to the bench again.
Farke’s midfield has seen a few changes already this season and the German has plenty of options. Having been impressed with Gruev, perhaps he could be in contention for further starts, but that looks increasingly unlikely up against their Yorkshire neighbours on Saturday (28 October).
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared Daniel Farke’s priorities.