Daniel Farke reveals new Leeds United injury 'setback' as skipper rated 50-50 with hamstring issue

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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has provided a fresh injury and team news update ahead of Oxford United’s visit to Elland Road this weekend, including potentially bad news for Pascal Struijk.

Farke will still be without left-back Junior Firpo who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while the festive schedule still comes too soon for Bulgarian international midfielder Ilia Gruev, out with a knee injury since October.

Leeds did include Jayden Bogle, Sam Byram and Max Wober, the latter as a substitute, in the matchday squad for the trip to Deepdale last Saturday where United drew 1-1 with Preston North End. This followed an admission by the Leeds boss that each of the three wide defensive options would be subject to late fitness tests.

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Wober is unlikely to be involved for the visit of the U’s, according to Farke, meanwhile stand-in skipper Pascal Struijk has, like the Austrian, been unable to train the past two days due to tightness in his hamstring.

“[Middlesbrough] was more or less first game in starting lineup for Max and for him lots of load, played 75 mins in the other game. His knee was slightly swollen,” Farke said on Thursday.

“Sadly a little setback in training yesterday, some knee problems again, he was not able to train today again. Will be a tight race. Looks like he won’t be available for this game. Disappointing for us but especially for him. We hope it's not too bad.”

Struijk picked up an injury at this stage last season which ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign and has struggled with a hamstring complaint in recent days.

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“Some concerns for Pascal Struijk, struggling with tightness in his hamstring, has not trained yesterday or today. At the moment our medical department gives him a 50-50 chance, but he's also a major doubt.”

With Leeds’ two senior, left-sided central defenders rated as unlikely to feature, it could necessitate a recall for club captain Ethan Ampadu who deputised for Struijk during the second half of 2023/24. Farke believes it will still be some time before the Wales international is back to his best, but is grateful for his availability again, after coming off the bench at right-back in Leeds’ past two games.

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