'I'm ready' - Encouraging Leeds United fitness message as star admits 'my body has taken a beating'

Leeds United defender Gabriel Gudmundsson admits his body took ‘a beating’ in the summer but is now ready to compete physically.

Gudmundsson missed the final three games of Leeds’ pre-season and the first three of the 2026/27 campaign after picking up an injury against Liverpool in August. The defender was clattered early on and fell awkwardly on his back, playing on before going to ground again holding his hamstring.

The left-back was eventually forced off and manager Daniel Farke confirmed a muscle injury, with Gudmundsson sidelined for one month before returning at Brighton in September. He played 90 minutes at the Amex Stadium but has been taken off in each of Leeds’ last two league games.

Melvin Bard also deputised for much of last month’s Carabao Cup defeat at Chelsea, with Gudmundsson a late introduction as Leeds chased goals. The Swede joined up with Sweden for a three-week international break last week and has spoken about his disrupted start to the campaign.

“It hasn't been super optimal for me,” he told Swedish outlet Fotbollskanlen. “I went to the back [injury] in the pre-season. Then it was straight into the Premier League and I started straight away, Brighton away. Since then it has gone well, but it's clear that my body has taken a beating.

“It takes me a little longer to recover from the matches. I feel good, there are no problems, but the pre-season has been the league game and it has taken a little time for the body to get into the rhythm.”

Gudmundsson’s pre-season injury sparked unusual rumours of a long-term issue which were quickly rubbished. The claims were seen by one of the defender’s Leeds teammates, however.

“Brenden Aaronson, a teammate, called me in the afternoon,” Gudmundsson explained. “He was like, ‘What the hell is going on?!’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘The knee.’

“He linked to someone on social media writing that it was the knee, seven-eight months. I don't know, sometimes you shouldn't trust too much what is written. It is what it is, it wasn't true.”

Gudmundsson was on the bench for Sweden’s 2-1 Nations League opening-round win over Romania on Friday. The 27-year-old was a late introduction, replacing midfielder Sebastian Nanasi with six minutes remaining to see out the victory.

Asked whether that rest came as a result of any physical issues, Gudmundsson issued an encouraging fitness message. He said: “My body feels good, I'm ready. There's no problem.”