When Leeds United hosts Hull City at Elland Road on Monday night, they will be missing several important players since the West Yorkshire team is still plagued by injuries.
Manager Daniel Farke acknowledged after Friday night’s 2-2 draw at Watford that he was happy to survive the match given his less than ideal pre-match preparations, and that things won’t likely get much better before the 8 p.m. matchup under the lights.
Georginio Rutter is making a comeback from injury, Willy Gnonto (hamstring) and Connor Roberts (thigh) are out for the next three weeks along with Stuart Dallas and Pascal Struijk. Ilia Gruev is questionable after missing the stalemate at Vicarage Road due to an ankle issue.
“I’ve had a hamstring problem for at least three weeks,” the German stated. “If he does well, it might be sooner, but in all likelihood, it will take three weeks, maybe a few extra days. The same, essentially, for Roberts. Gruev can go on Monday, but first he needs to assess the edema. Connor and Willy are going out on Monday.
Farke thinks that he will have to exercise caution this weekend in preparation for playing Liam Rosenior’s City, who will be bitter over their devastating 2-0 home loss to Stoke City, considering that he only had six players practicing during the international break.
“We might practice with just six guys before tonight. It will be challenging prior to Monday. Easter is rather strange. Not much better, but at least we have a little bit of more time before the game. On Sunday, we’ll workout light and focus on improving our game. You have to approach it wisely. We’ll take a practical approach. Tonight, I attempted and completed that task.”
As for Rosenior’s City, they should be fully fit for the Yorkshire derby, excluding the absence of injured player Liam Delap and Jacob Greaves, who is serving the second of a two-game suspension after receiving ten yellow cards.
