Leeds United pair still in with chance of injury returns against Newcastle United with update revealed
Daniel Farke has provided his Leeds United team news for Wednesday night’s Premier League clash at Newcastle United.
Leeds United could welcome back one of their injured first team players for the trip to Newcastle United on Wednesday night.
Leeds were without captain Ethan Ampadu for the clash with Manchester United on Sunday due to suspension so can once again rely on his presence in the midfield, while Sean Longstaff returned to the bench following his recovery from a calf issue and will be in contention for involvement off the bench against his former club.
But while winger Daniel James [hamstring] remains two weeks away from a return to team training Daniel Farke believes there's still a chance - however small - that one of Joe Rodon or Jayden Bogle could be involved at St James' Park.
Rodon turned his ankle in a pair of challenges at Sunderland and sat out Sunday's game, while Bogle missed it as well with a calf niggle.
"Thank God no new injury concerns, important news after such a competitive game," he said. "We try to recover smart and a quick turnaround to be ready again for Wednesday evening at Newcastle United.
“With Sean, if I'm honest, my plan initially was to involve him for the first time for the FA Cup game. He was out for more than six weeks and normally I like a full week of training first but he's so important for us on and off the pitch. To have his maturity and experience in the dressing room is always important.
“At the moment we don't have a proper team training, today we've split in two groups, one for recovery and one for a bit more load.
“He was involved with the group on the pitch with a bit more load. It was another important session. Ethan will come back, which is quite important. Sean has a chance to be involved in the squad again, definitely not as a starter. We'll take some late decisions on who is available and who is not."
"He is our player and will be our player. It's not a topic we need to discuss.”
Bogle's absence on Sunday initially sparked fears that there was some transfer interest in the right-back, before Farke and the club confirmed it was injury-related. Farke was happy to dispell any lingering fears over the defender's future, and revealed a hope that he could return at Newcastle.
"It's genuine, this time of year there are some rumours, but no one needs to be concerned," said Farke.
"He is our player and will be our player. It makes no sense, it's not a topic we need to discuss.
“Joe and Jayden were not in team training, they were doing individual work but both are making good progress.
“If the Newcastle game comes too soon or if there's a possibility to involve them it's too soon to say. If both would return in team training [on Tuesday] they'd have a chance to be involved but it's perhaps more realistic for them to be involved on the other side of the FA Cup. We still have a big hope that one of them could be with us for Newcastle.
"Dan is around two weeks away from team training. We expect him around this date back in team training and we'll see how quick he's back."