Fresh Leeds United injury doubt emerges from international duty as players begin returning

-Credit: (Image: Damjan Zibert/Soccrates/Getty Images)
-Credit: (Image: Damjan Zibert/Soccrates/Getty Images)


Injuries are the biggest concern Daniel Farke has until all of his Leeds United players return home from international duty. Daniel James did not join up with Wales, while Patrick Bamford was missing from the last two matches with a hamstring issue.

Max Wober has been managed carefully through the opening weeks of the season too. There were 63 minutes for the Austrian in the League Cup loss to Middlesbrough, but he’s yet to take to the field in the Championship this term.

Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk have formed Farke’s preferred partnership in central defence, while a calf injury ruled Wober out of last month’s win at Sheffield Wednesday. The 26-year-old returned to the squad against Hull City, but there have been fresh noises from the Austria camp about a problem for the defender.

READ MORE:Jesurun Rak-Sakyi reveals why he snubbed Leeds United for Sheffield United transfer

READ MORE:EFL pundit doubles down on Leeds United promotion belief and issues January transfer prediction

Wober did get through 90 minutes of his nation’s first match, against Slovenia on Friday, but he was left out of the team and failed to get on as a substitute in last night’s Norway loss. Kronen Zeitung, Austria’s largest newspaper, has reported Wober was missing with a knee injury.

Its report said: “ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick made two changes to the team that played in the 1-1 draw at the Nations League opener in Slovenia on Friday. New father Philipp Lienhart replaced Maximilian Wöber, who was suffering from knee problems, in central defence.”

Farke is expected to face the media on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime clash with relegated Burnley. The German will provide the latest medical report on his squad then, with Brenden Aaronson the last of his charges to play for their nation, when USA kick-off at midnight (BST) on Wednesday morning.