Sunderland: Graham Smyth Provides a Comprehensive Injury Update for Leeds United
Sunderland: Graham Smyth Provides a Comprehensive Injury Update for Leeds United
A devastating blow has been given to Leeds United as the team has confirmed
that Ilia Gurev will miss several months of play and require surgery on his right knee
following an injury he sustained during Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Norwich City.
Gruev was hurt during the first half of the Canaries’ game at Carrow Road and needed medical attention.
He was gripping his knee. The midfielder sent Daniel Farke’s coaching staff a signal that he could no longer play through the pain barrier,
and although he tried to return, he was eventually forced to be replaced by Joe Rothwell.
The injury, which is classified as “severe” and involves damage to the meniscus,
has verified initial concerns about its severity. It will take “an extended period of rehabilitation” to heal.
This occurs following a setback suffered by Farke’s captain, Ethan Ampadu, last week,
which resulted in his knee injury ruling him out until at least 2025.
Gruev, who cost €6.5 million to sign from Werder Bremen last summer,
was brought in by Farke and given the responsibility of playing a key role in a midfield that may help Leeds win promotion back to the Premier League right away.
The Bulgarian,
who made 29 Championship appearances—20 of which were starts—was a valuable but not indispensable member of the West Yorkshire team,
which finally lost to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley in May and was unable to achieve promotion.
Gruev’s standing in the team has increased this season after Farke frequently
favored Ampadu and Glen Kamara in the middle of the park during the previous campaign.
The Whites have started all eight Championship games so far thanks to Gruev.
Given that the German manager has already lost his captain
and a constant in the midfield in Ampadu to a long-term injury,
the news that the 24-year-old has sustained a catastrophic injury will undoubtedly worry him greatly.
Farke has already ruled out Gruev for Friday night’s trip to Sunderland,
so Leeds supporters knew exactly what to dread when the team issued a statement confirming the severity of the Bulgarian international’s injury:
Ilia Gruev, a midfielder for Leeds United and a Bulgarian international,
was substituted in the 20th minute of the team’s Tuesday Sky Bet Championship tie against Norwich City due to a right knee injury.
After more examination, it was discovered that Ilia had suffered a serious meniscus injury.
He will have surgery in the near future and will need a lengthy recuperation period.
We at Leeds United hope Ilia recovers quickly and sends his best regards to everyone.”
Journalist Graham Smyth disclosed in his piece for the Yorkshire Evening Post that
“the YEP understands Gruev is looking at months out of action, rather than weeks.”
Farke will have to choose from a diminished roster as Leeds attempt to build on their generally successful start to the new campaign when they visit fellow promotion contenders Sunderland tonight in the northeast.
It is now established that Ampadu and Gruev will be out for an extended period of time,
and Daniel James, Manor Solomon, and Max Wober will not be attending the game at the Stadium of Light.
Solomon has only made two appearances this season due to fitness concerns,
while James was out for many weeks in mid-September due to what appears to be a more serious injury.
Wober, however, has been dealing with a knee injury that is “slightly injured” for a while.
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