Joe Rodon, Jayden Bogle, Junior Firpo and Wilfried Gnonto are already walking the disciplinary tightrope with 10 Leeds United games until the five-yellow cut-off
Five Leeds United players have question marks hanging over their availability as they navigate the international break with Sheffield United’s visit on the horizon next week. Ethan Ampadu, Daniel James, Manor Solomon, Max Wober and Ilia Gruev were all missing from last week’s draw at Sunderland, though Daniel Farke is hopeful two of them could return.
James and Solomon are the players the manager has his fingers crossed for, though they are not likely to be more than bench options. It is the players currently away with their countries who will be on Farke’s mind.
Aside from injuries, the great threat to player selection for Farke is suspension. Thankfully, there have been no red cards shown to his players yet, but the yellows continue to tick over.
The Whites are eighth in the disciplinary league table with 22 yellow cards. Preston North End, for context, have the most with 30, plus two red cards, and Middlesbrough have had the fewest at just 11 cautions.
On Friday on Wearside, Jayden Bogle and Joe Rodon each collected their fourth yellows of the year, while Junior Firpo joined Wilfried Gnonto on three. They are already walking something of a tightrope.
They will be banned for one match if they, individually, reach five yellows apiece before the Derby game on December 7. After collecting three or four in nine games, they now have to negotiate another 10 outings without getting an additional one or two.
Bogle and Firpo at least have some cover in the form of Sam Byram and Isaac Schmidt, but the squad is already thinning out behind Gnonto and Rodon. In Rodon’s case, if that fifth booking comes before Wober is match-fit, Farke will be forced to play either Byram or James Debayo in central defence.
Solomon and James will hopefully be not too far away from contention after the international break, but regardless of cover, Gnonto is becoming something of a talisman for this side in attack. Leeds need all four to be on their best behaviour to avoid that suspension.
Leave a Reply