Daniel Farke offered mixed news on Leeds United’s injury situation in his press conference on Friday.
Farke was speaking ahead of his team’s play-off semi-final first leg trip to former club Norwich City tomorrow, where they will want to secure a positive result before the return encounter at Elland Road on Thursday.
Leeds were missing four players for last weekend’s final defeat to Southampton, with Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas already out for the season.
Dan James and Patrick Bamford were both absent, though the former is expected to return to the bench at Carrow Road after participating in some areas of team training this week.
Bamford, on the other hand, has already been ruled out for both legs due to a worse-than-expected knee injury, which is definitely a major setback for Farke.
Joel Piroe could get the chance to finally justify Leeds’ expenditure.
Leeds have basically thrown away automatic promotion with four defeats in their past six games, so the play-offs represent a second chance for them.
Leeds must make Championship history if they are to be promoted, and based on the facts, they would have had a stronger chance if Bamford had been available.
Leeds have a 73.3 percent win rate in the 15 games Bamford has started this season, compared to 51.6 percent in the other 31.
Farke has decided not to give youngster Mateo Joseph a chance in Bamford’s absence, therefore Joel Piroe appears to be the most likely candidate.
Piroe has 13 goals since joining from Swansea City for £10.5 million last summer, but his performance has been somewhat underwhelming.
Though he scored last week, his recent performances as a leader in important games against Blackburn Rovers and QPR were inadequate.
like previously stated, Piroe has a second opportunity, just like Leeds does. He must perform in these vital games if Farke’s team is to reach Wembley Stadium.
If he scores the goals that propel Leeds to the final, and possibly even the Premier League, he will have more than justified his high price tag, regardless of some of his performances during the regular season.
Leeds owe Swansea City £3 million for Piroe if promoted.
Piroe was Leeds’ most expensive purchase last summer, and as previously stated, he has not lived up to his high price tag.
If Leeds win the play-offs this month, they will owe an additional £3 million to his previous club Swansea City.
That is a number Leeds would gladly pay, since it would imply the’superb’ Piroe had played his part in completing the job.
