£2.5m player doubtful for Leeds United reunion after limping off for his country duty with intention to return after…
Leeds United finally have a return to Championship action in their sights this weekend.
There is now just one more day of internationals before every player will have returned to Thorp Arch to report back for club duty, after a break that came at the worst possible time for Leeds.
Leeds completed the signings of four new players in the final eight days of the window and before they even had any chance to settle in, up stepped the international break.
Daniel Farke‘s squad had also just began building some momentum with back-to-back 2-0 wins over Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday.
And Leeds could not have asked for a more difficult fixture to mark their return as they host fellow promotion favourites Burnley at Elland Road.
In Connor Roberts and Jaidon Anthony, two of Leeds’ loanees from the 2023/24 campaign will be hoping to come up against their former club on Saturday.
Anthony was a late window recruit at Turf Moor and wasted little time to make an impact with a lovely assist on his debut during Burnley’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers.
Roberts, meanwhile, returned to parent club Burnley in the summer after Leeds opted against trying to sign him permanently, and has started all four of their opening league matches.
However, the £2.5 million man’s availability for his first trip back to Elland Road is in doubt after going off injured in Wales’ 2-1 win at Montenegro last night.
Roberts was replaced by Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson just a couple of minutes before half-time, and with only a few days to get himself back fit, it would be a surprise if he makes it.
After selling Vitinho and opting against registering summer recruit Shurandy Sambo, it will be interesting to see who Burnley opt to replace him with.
Leeds were without a few first team players for their recent win against Hull City but one of them in new signing Isaac Schmidt could make the squad for the first time.
Schmidt was signed too late to be registered in time for the clash with the Tigers, unlike Leeds’ trio of other signings Ao Tanaka, Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon, who all featured.
Farke will also be hoping to welcome back both Dan James and Patrick Bamford into the squad after their recent absences with a hamstring injury.
Leeds would have a fully fit squad if those two were to return, and all the internationals return with a clean bill of health, meaning at least one big name will have to miss out.
Despite making eight new signings, Leeds United’s summer was not without its fair share of frustration.
Up until the final week of the window, Leeds supporters had really began to take aim at the 49ers after selling several key players, and taking what felt like an eternity to replace them.
