AliousLeeds United finds itself in a precarious situation, grappling with a series of injury setbacks that have left the squad thin on experienced players. This predicament has created an urgent need for younger talents to step up and fill the void. Amidst these challenges, one young player is making significant strides, albeit away from Elland Road on a loan spell.
The injury crisis at Leeds has reached a critical point, with the most recent and perhaps most disheartening blow being the sidelining of Ethan Ampadu. The versatile player is expected to be out of action for approximately 10 weeks due to a knee injury sustained during Leeds’ 3-0 victory over Coventry City. This setback is particularly significant as Ampadu had been a constant presence in the starting lineup since his arrival from Chelsea in July 2023, having not missed a single league match until now.
The injury woes don’t end with Ampadu. Manager Daniel Farke is also without the services of Max Wober, Manor Solomon, Dan James, and Isaac Schmidt for the upcoming away fixture against Norwich City. This string of absences has left Leeds with a severe shortage of seasoned players to even fill the substitutes’ bench.
In response to this personnel crisis, Farke may need to turn to youth prospects Charlie Crew and James Debayo. These young players might find themselves thrust into first-team action sooner than expected, provided Farke is willing to place his trust in their abilities during this challenging period.
While Leeds is searching for solutions within their ranks, one promising midfielder, Darko Gyabi, is unavailable for selection as he is currently on loan at Plymouth Argyle, working under the guidance of Wayne Rooney. This marks Gyabi’s second stint at Home Park, following a successful spell in the latter half of the previous season. Interestingly, it was the newly appointed manager Rooney who pushed for Gyabi’s return to the club.
Rooney’s faith in Gyabi seems to be well-placed, as evidenced by recent performances and comments from the coaching staff. Pete Shuttleworth, Rooney’s assistant, recently suggested that Gyabi has the potential to become one of the Championship’s standout players if he can maintain consistency in his performances.
Gyabi’s talent was on full display during a recent match against Luton Town, where his dynamic run from one penalty area to the other played a crucial role in setting up Plymouth’s second goal of the evening. This performance caught the eye of many observers and further underscored his potential impact.
In a recent interview with the Plymouth Herald ahead of Argyle’s upcoming match against Burnley, Rooney spoke highly of Gyabi’s abilities, particularly praising his skill in carrying the ball forward. The former England international considers this one of Gyabi’s most valuable attributes.
Rooney elaborated on Gyabi’s recent performance, noting, “He suffered a dead leg in the first half, and as often happens when players cool down during the half-time break, it stiffened up, making it difficult to regain momentum. However, he showed no signs of discomfort just before we scored our second goal. He drove forward with the ball, which is a real strength of his, but unfortunately felt he couldn’t continue after that exertion, so we had to make a substitution.”
This praise from a figure of Rooney’s stature in the football world serves to highlight Gyabi’s growing reputation and the potential impact he could have upon his return to Leeds. As the club navigates through its current injury crisis, the development of young talents like Gyabi, even while on loan, provides a glimmer of hope for the future and may offer solutions to the team’s present challenges.
Alious
