Leeds United star issues message after boss decision and relief on international duty

Leeds United midfielder Ilia Gruev has saluted a step in the right direction after long-awaited relief on international duty.

Midfielder Gruev was one of several Leeds players in international action on Wednesday night, the 25-year-old handed a third consecutive start for Bulgaria who ended their World Cup qualifiers with a home clash against Georgia.

New boss Aleksandar Dimitrov dropped regular starter Gruev to the bench for last month’s World Cup qualifier at home to Turkey in which his side were hammered 6-1 as part of a miserable campaign.

A small slice of relief

Gruev was then back in the starting line-up for the away qualifiers in Spain and Turkey which followed but two more defeats left Bulgaria without a single point ahead of their final Group G game at home to Georgia.

Dimitrov again kept Gruev in his starting line-up and the Whites midfielder helped his country to a small slice of relief in sealing a 2-1 victory to at least put one win on the board.

Gruev played the full 90 minutes of the match, after which he issued a seven-word message on social media.

Taking to his Instagram page, Gruev posted an action photograph together with the words: “A small step in the right direction!”