Leeds United are dealing with several injury concerns ahead of their pre-season friendly against Sunderland on Friday. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jaka Bijol, and two other players are currently sidelined, with varying degrees of severity.
Who is injured and what are their conditions?
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has suffered a setback in his individual training programme and is currently training alone at the US camp. The issue is described as minor, but it has delayed his return to full team sessions. Last season, Calvert-Lewin was available for every Premier League match after his debut.
Jaka Bijol picked up a knee problem before the recent friendly against Wrexham. The severity of the injury has not been disclosed, but it is a concern given his importance to the team. Bijol's only setback last season was a muscle issue that cost him three games.
What about the other injured players?
Gabriel Gudmundsson and new centre-back Tarik Muharemovic were omitted from the squad against Wrexham due to their late arrival after post-World Cup breaks. Noah Okafor is not on tour after Switzerland reached the quarter-finals, while Brenden Aaronson is expected to return soon.
Ao Tanaka played the second half of the 3-2 defeat to Wrexham, but Bornauw missed out with a minor issue as a precaution. He could feature against Sunderland.
What is the latest on Gruev's recovery?
Gruev is still recovering from a meniscus injury he suffered in April, which ruled him out of the final six matches last season. He has returned in some capacity for pre-season but needs more time to reach full fitness. His presence on tour suggests he may get some game time before the trip ends.
What does this mean for Leeds United's pre-season plans?
With several key players either injured or not fully fit, Leeds United will need to manage their squad carefully in the upcoming friendly against Sunderland. The injuries to Calvert-Lewin and Bijol are particularly concerning, given their importance to the team's attacking and defensive setups.
