If Pascal Struijk has surgery to treat his bothersome groin ailment, he could miss three to four months of action. The 24-year-old Struijk hasn’t played since Deepdale’s 2-1 loss on Boxing Day. By now, one would have thought that he would have at least resumed first team training, but a cartilage issue has made his condition worse.
Football players frequently experience groin pain due to hip joint pain caused by a rip in the cartilage (or labrum). In an attempt to help him get through the season, Struijk has been receiving injectable treatment, but to no effect. Following consultation with experts, Rob Price, Leeds Head of Medicine and Performance, and first team physician Rishi Dhand will make a decision.shortly. At least if he had surgery now, he should be fit for the start of next season!
Leeds had the wrong international break during this time.
According to Elland Road columnist Phil Hay, Daniel Farke will be the least happy manager among the Championship’s top contenders due to the time of the most recent international break. Speaking about the issue on the “Square Ball” podcast, Hay emphasized that Farke wouldn’t decide to take a break just now because he wouldn’t want to sap the team’s drive and enthusiasm and because, secondly, they don’t require a break!
Leeds’ roster contains sixteen players who have been called up for international duty, excluding Rutter. This not only complicates Farke’s training sessions and game preparations, but it also puts players at risk of injury while playing for their nations. Even worse, Junior Firpo doesn’t get back to his house until the day before the Watford game, which makes it highly unlikely he will play!
Leeds is the team with the drive and the momentum. Of the three top managers, Farke is most likely the least excited about this break occurring. Leeds will benefit from being allowed to take a breather, and I believe he understands its importance. However, you don’t really choose to take a break when you don’t need it, which Leeds don’t currently.
It’s not as helpful as it could be, in my opinion, because a lot of players will be playing and a lot of guys will be absent. There won’t be many full training sessions with the team for him. The fact that Leeds may not have enough time to prepare thoroughly for Watford away doesn’t seem to be a major disadvantage to me, but as Farke noted, Firpo’s absence is likely.
Farke was undoubtedly indicating that he would be traveling to the Dominican Republic and that he wouldn’t be returning until that Friday. That means a switch in that position within the team, and the outcomes speak for themselves regardless of how much you like Firpo or want him to play left-back or something else. The team is currently quite well-established and functioning well.
Rutter is going to have hernia surgery.
In the coming day or so, Georginio Rutter will have laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery to address a hernia issue that has been bothering him for a few weeks. Because the abdominal wall is not punctured during the treatment, it is non-invasive and results in a considerably faster recovery. The team hopes to make the most of the international break by getting the French U21 International back to full strength in time for the last push. There is optimism that he will be well enough to travel to Watford on the 29th, as recovery times can be as short as ten days.