Ampadu, Wober, Schmidt - Leeds United injury news and possible return dates ahead of Norwich City clash
The latest from Leeds United’s treatment room ahead of Tuesday evening’s trip to Carrow Road.
Leeds United’s first midweek Championship clash of the season takes them to Carrow Road on Tuesday evening with Daniel Farke’s men facing play-off hopefuls Norwich City. The Whites beat Coventry City 3-0 on Saturday to cement their early promotion credentials but face a quick turnaround and the long journey south to Norfolk.
And that quick turnaround brings with it the usual fitness issues, with Leeds carrying their fair share of bumps and bruises at this early point of the campaign - as well as some more serious issues. With all that in mind, the YEP has rounded up all the latest injury news ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Norwich.
Isaac Schmidt
Summer signing Schmidt was introduced to the Elland Road crowd with an eight-minute cameo against Coventry, with his versatility on show with a stint on the wing, but the 24-year-old will not be involved on Tuesday. Farke confirmed in his Monday press conference that Schmidt reported ‘glute problems’ in the aftermath of Saturday’s win.
The turnaround will be too tight for him to make it at Norwich on Tuesday. Leeds play twice before the week is up and face another long journey to Sunderland on Friday evening, with a fresh update expected on the Swiss youth international before then.
Possible return date: October 4 (vs Sunderland)
Daniel James
The Welshman has missed Leeds’ last four games and is expected to miss more, having suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury earlier in September. Farke’s ‘realistic’ expectation has been a return to play after the October international break, which follows Friday’s trip to Sunderland.
Possible return date: October 18 (vs Sheffield United)
Manor Solomon
Like James, Manor Solomon is battling a hamstring injury which initially presented as back problems. The Israeli international replaced James in the starting line-up earlier in September but has missed wins over Cardiff and Coventry.
Speaking before the Coventry game, Farke admitted he hoped to have Solomon back ‘at least for the last game before the international break and perhaps even Norwich’. But a return for Tuesday’s trip to Carrow Road was ruled out on Monday.
Possible return date: October 4 (vs Sunderland)
Max Wober
The defender has been battling numerous fitness issues since the start of the season, most recently concerning his knee - an injury that was picked up on international duty with Austria. After attempting a conservative recovery approach, the decision has been made to send Wober in for surgery.
"I can also confirm that Max Wober is set for surgery tomorrow, meniscus repair,” Farke said on Monday. “We expect him to be out for about six weeks until he's back in training.”
Possible return date: November 24 (vs Swansea City)
Ethan Ampadu
A crushing blow for Leeds came with Monday’s confirmation that Ampadu will be out until the new year, having suffered an injury to the lateral collateral ligament in his knee on Saturday. "I have to confirm it's a serious knee injury, he has damaged his lateral ligament,” Farke said.
“The doctors have recommended conservative treatment so he doesn't need surgery. It's realistic to speak about 10 weeks before he returns to team training. You would expect him to be back at some point during December and obviously he needs a bit of team training before he's available back for the games, so we expect him to be just back available at some point in January."
Possible return date: January 1 (vs Blackburn Rovers)