Leeds United striker stayed '˜mum' over birth of his daughter

Lasogga became a father for the first time on Friday night but maintained a strict silence about the new arrival as Christiansen finalised his team for Ipswich’s visit to Elland Road.

The 25-year-old forward insisted on being involved and claimed the opening goal in a 3-2 victory before flying home to Germany on Saturday evening to be with his girlfriend and his daughter, Milou Emilia.

Lasogga signed for Leeds on loan from Hamburg on August 31 at a time when his partner was heavily pregnant.

The baby was due on September 10, the day after Lasogga’s Leeds debut against Burton Albion, but he has avoided missing any of United’s games and returned from Hamburg late last night to make himself available for tomorrow’s league match at Cardiff City.

Christiansen said: “They’ve been very intense days for him. I have to say he’s a very professional player because the normal thing is to communicate when you become a dad, to the players. He didn’t say that for a whole day. I didn’t know

“He didn’t want to take the attention away from anyone and I’m pleased for that. He’s been flying to Germany and back to Leeds in short time. It was nice for him and we’ll wait to see how he is for the game tomorrow.”

Lasogga’s strike against Ipswich was his third goal in four starts for Leeds and helped to keep United at the top of the Championship.

Asked if he would have sent Lasogga home on Friday had he known about the birth, Christiansen said: “He’s not the type who asks for that permission. He wants to play.

“I know what it is to be a dad and I forced one of my births a little bit (during his playing career) but I can understand how he handled it. I liked very much the way he handled the situation.”