The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Tuesday 10th February) Struijk injury headache
Good Morning. It's Tuesday 10th February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Struijk injury headache
Daniel Farke has a bit of a headache heading into tonight's clash at Stamford Bridge, following the news that Pascal Struijk picked up a groin strain during the weekend's victory over Nottingham Forest. While Struijk has been a workhorse this season, logging the third-highest minutes behind Joe Rodon and Gabriel Gudmundsson, his injury history is becoming a recurring theme for the club.
With Anton Stach also sidelined, Farke is reluctant to shuffle Ethan Ampadu into the backline, knowing that doing so would leave a gaping hole in the midfield. Instead, all eyes are on Jaka Bijol, who has spent the last month on the sidelines with a hamstring issue. After making the bench against Forest but remaining unused, the Slovenian international has had a few extra days to sharpen up in training.
Having failed to strenthen defensively last month, Daniel Farke has little option but to throw Bijol straight back into the deep end, pairing him with Rodon and Justin to shore up the defense Messrs Struijk and Stach are expected to be out of action for a fortnight. Fans will be praying for a clean bill of health, as the Whites approach the business end of the season.
Hammer blows for West Ham
Leeds relegation rivals West Ham have been hit by injuries ahead of their crunch tie against Manchester tonight tonight. The Hammers are just six points behind Leeds, and are one of the in-form teams in the top flight. During Monday's press conference, Nuno Espírito Santo kept his cards close to his chest, confirming only that "unfortunately we’re going to have some players out" for the clash with the red side of Manchester, adding with a shrug, "It is what it is."
The timing couldn't be worse for the Hammers, who are currently one of the league's in-form sides and sit just six points behind Leeds, making this a crucial fixture in the relegation scrap. The mystery deepened after the weekend win at Turf Moor, where Nuno opted to withdraw Callum Wilson, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Valentin Castellanos, Jarrod Bowen, and Crycensio Summerville, a quintet whose early exits now look like a potential clue to the absentees.
To make matters worse, West Ham are already guaranteed to be without Jean-Clair Todibo, who is serving the second match of his three-game suspension following his red card in the London derby against Chelsea. Leeds travel to Stamford Bridge this evening, traditionally not a good haunting ground for the Whites, so, against their better judgement, Leeds fans will be praying for a Manchester Utd victory tonight.