Leeds United have received a huge injury boost this international break…
What’s the latest?
BBC journalist Adam Pope has provided supporters with an encouraging update ahead of the Whites’ return to Premier League action this weekend, where they will face Southampton at Elland Road on Saturday.
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch could welcome back as many as six first-team faces to his squad for the encounter, including long-term absentees Kalvin Phillips and skipper Liam Cooper, as well as Raphinha.
“Illan Meslier (bruising) is expected to be ready to face Southampton. Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper & Diego Llorente [are] all set to feature too,” the reliable journalist revealed on Twitter. “Raphinha has trained & Mateusz Klich (concussion) is ready to play.”
Enormous boost
When it rains it pours, at least that’s been the case with injuries at Leeds this season.
Marsch’s side suffered an excruciating four injuries during their 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out and that was on top of already having several other names missing due to fitness or other injury setbacks.
And after suffering yet another blow to Patrick Bamford, who is set to miss a further six weeks of action, this news will be hugely encouraging for the American head coach and the fanbase.
Meslier, Llorente and Klich all started at Molineux but were forced off early with varying injuries, whilst Phillips and Cooper could only make the bench, having been missing since early December with hamstring problems.
Back-to-back wins have lifted the Yorkshiremen seven points clear of the relegation zone with only eight games left to play, though some below them do hold games in hand.
However, being able to welcome back as many as six likely starters to a threadbare squad is certainly going to serve as a massive boost to Leeds.
For what seems like the first time all season, the Whites have as close to a fully-fit team as possible and that will delight Marsch and his coaching staff heading into a crucial run of future-defining fixtures.
A win over the Saints, with the likes of Phillips and Cooper back, would put Leeds in a very strong position indeed.
AND in other news, Leeds lead the race for “crazy” £14.4m-rated gem who could be the perfect Raphinha replacement…