Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk is expected to return to squad training at Thorp Arch in the coming weeks, with a return following March’s international break a real possibility.
The Dutch centre-back has been absent from Daniel Farke’s matchday squads since the 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion nearly two months ago. What was initially classified as a minor groin ailment has resulted in the 24-year-old visiting physicians and undergoing scans on multiple occasions to determine the source of the problem.
Farke delivered excellent news about Struijk during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon, implying that he is well on his way to a full recovery.
“Pascal is allowed to extend his training load and to make him hopefully ready to join team training,” said the head coach of Leeds. “The doctors stated that we need to build him up over the next two, two and a half weeks, and if everything goes well, he can return to team training. I just expect him to be available after the international break, assuming he rejoins us in team training.”
Struijk was also spotted in the gym at Leeds’ Thorp Arch base, exercising with teammates, many of whom are fit to face Leicester City this weekend, as his reintegration into the main squad continues.
The defender also shared four-word fitness updates on social media, along with the photographs of his rehabilitation shown above. Struijk wrote in the post that he is “working my way [back].”
Leeds manager Farke has repeated his wish to have all available players for the team’s run-in, including the ‘excellent’ Struijk, as the German stated in yesterday’s press conference. In his absence, summer acquisition Ethan Ampadu has deputised in central defence alongside loanee Joe Rodon, and the pair have kept seven clean sheets in their previous eight Championship games.
