Leeds United duo Dan James and Patrick Bamford missed the Whites’ pre-season clash with Hannover 96 amid fitness concerns, according to Graham Smyth.
The Yorkshire Evening Post journalist reported on Wednesday (24 July) that James had picked up an adductor strain during training and was therefore left out of the showdown as a precaution.
His strain is only believed to be a slight issue and the Welsh international is therefore hoping to be involved in Leeds’ second friendly match of the tour.
Daniel Farke’s side are continuing to manage Patrick Bamford’s workload as he recovers from knee surgery and therefore made the call to leave the striker out of the clash with Hannover.
Instead, the centre-forward completed a gym session and like James, Leeds hope to give him some minutes in the second match of the training camp.
Is Patrick Bamford still injured amid Leeds United pre-season updates?
In an ideal world, Leeds United would have had their entire first-team squad and loads of new signings fit and ready to take part in the entirety of pre-season, but that was never likely to happen this summer.
Bamford’s work has been managed since the end of last season after the striker struggled with injury towards the back end of the campaign and it makes little sense for the Whites to rush him back after all that work.
Farke is going to need the former England international fit and available next term if he wants to get back to the Premier League, so Leed are doing the right thing by playing things safe when it comes to his rehabilitation.
Similarly, with James, the Whites won’t want the Welshman to aggravate his slight strain by playing minutes in what is essentially a fitness-based match.
Hopefully, both players will return to the fold in some capacity for the second game, but supporters shouldn’t be too worried by this latest update out of Elland Road.
