'Good news' on Leeds United injury front as boss provides update on quartet

Willy Gnonto and Jamie Shackleton both returned from injuries to make the Whites matchday squad for Saturday’s 3-2 win at Norwich City, leaving Spence, Firpo, Dallas and Leo Hjelde as the only Leeds players sidelined.

Hjelde was named as a doubt for the weekend trip to Carrow Road due to an Achilles’ issue and did not make the matchday squad but Farke has revealed that the Norwegian defender has now recovered ahead of Wednesday night’s Championship hosting of Stoke City.

Dallas, Firpo and Spence remain out but Farke provided an update on all three players at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference on a day in which United’s under-21s host Hertha Berlin in a Premier League International Cup tie.

Spence has been out since the middle of September having damaged his lateral collateral ligament in training whilst Firpo is yet to feature this season having suffered hip pain upon recovering from torn lateral ligaments in his knee.

Dallas, meanwhile, remains on the long comeback trail from the femoral fracture suffered in the 4-0 defeat at home to Manchester City of April 2022. Farke had revealed at Thursday’s pre-Norwich press conference that both Firpo and Dallas had now been part-integrated back into training but that both would need more time before being available for selection.

Spence, meanwhile, is continuing his rehab from his knee injury but Hjelde is now back in the mix for Wednesday’s trip to the Potteries.

"It has improved with Leo, he is ready to go,” said Farke at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference. "Also all of the other lads came good through the (Norwich) game.

"Obviously we have got our long-term injuries with Djed Spence and Stuart Dallas. But apart from this, everyone is in team training and definitely good news."

Asked if there was any hope of someone like Firpo being involved with the under-21s, Farke explained: "No. I think for Junior Firpo for example he needs a couple of weeks of team training.

"It would be too early to send him out. Also Stuart, first of all he has to join us in team training, he needs full training sessions and this on a consistent basis, so it will last definitely several weeks until this could become a topic. Also Djed Spence is still not in team training so no.

"Perhaps a few younger players who won’t make it into the squad, they will get some minutes. It's sensible that they play some minutes but from the long term injuries, no, no news, no.”