Alious
Max Wober’s long-awaited return to action finally materialized – but not in Leeds United colors. The Austrian defender, who’s been recovering from knee surgery, has found himself warming the bench in Leeds’ last three Championship matches, with Daniel Farke preferring the established partnership of Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk at the heart of defense.
The 26-year-old’s international prospects haven’t dimmed though. Austria boss Ralf Rangnick included him in the latest Nations League squad, and while Wober initially had to settle for another bench role in Thursday’s Kazakhstan fixture, Sunday’s clash with Slovenia proved to be his comeback moment.
Rangnick showed remarkable confidence in the Leeds man, not only by starting him alongside Philipp Lienhart in central defense but by keeping him on for the full 90 minutes – quite a statement for someone who hasn’t kicked a ball competitively since September. Wober justified that faith early on, playing a role in the counter-attack that led to Romano Schmid’s opener after 27 minutes.
The fairy-tale return was slightly dulled in the closing stages though, as Slovenia’s Adam Gnezda Cerin found an equalizer with just nine minutes remaining, forcing Austria to settle for a 1-1 draw. Still, for Wober, getting that first full match under his belt marks a significant milestone in his return to full fitness.
Alious
