‘He’s a major doubt’: Daniel Farke says key Leeds United player could now miss Rotherham game

Daniel Farke has told Wednesday’s press conference that Leeds United could be without Georginio Rutter on Friday night with the Frenchman picking up an abdominal injury on international duty.

Rutter, 21, has been sensational for Leeds this season – having a hand in eight goals. Starting up top, he is seen all over the pitch contributing to play. His creativity has been crucial to the way Leeds play.

He has been ever-present for Leeds, one of the first names on the team sheet having turned around his form from last season’s dismal first six months. But ahead of Rotherham, Farke says Rutter is a doubt.

It comes after Rutter was handed a return to France’s U21 side with Thierry Henry taking charge for the first time. The Frenchman only played once, as a sub, but returned to Leeds with an abdominal injury.

“There are question marks. Georginio Rutter for example, he’s a big doubt because he has an abdominal strain. He came back injured and could not train. He’s a major doubt, not been able to train,” Farke said.

Farke bemoaned the lack of time between his players returning from international duty, in Wednesday’s presser on the club’s YouTube channel, and the decision to place Leeds’ next game on a Friday night.

It hands a massive boost to Rotherham, who lack the number of international players that Leeds boast. A huge number were in action over the break, and will come back lacking 100% fitness this week.

Rutter being a major example. Leeds need Rutter to be fit and while Rotherham are not at the top end of the table, Leeds will still need to be at their best. Patrick Bamford will be the obvious one to come in.

Daniel Farke confirmed in his press conference on Wednesday that Rutter is a ‘major doubt’ for the game after picking up an abdominal strain on international duty for France’s U21s.

Rutter has started every game since the third match of the season against West Bromwich Albion and has gone from strength to strength with three goals and five assists.

Due to his ability to drop deep, be creative and dribble with the ball, Leeds‘ attack is pretty much entirely built around him and so his absence would be extremely hard felt.

Farke has hinted that Patrick Bamford could be the man to come in if Rutter doesn’t make it, but he should instead consider handing Wilfried Gnonto a start instead.

Gnonto has not played an awful lot since his return from injury last month but his return of four goals in two matches for Italy U21s over the last week should boost his confidence.

The 20-year-old was playing in a more central role which clearly suited him given his goals and the fact the Italian media labelled him the best player on the pitch in both matches.

Bamford does not really possess the attributes to replace Rutter in attack, but Gnonto – if considerably smaller in stature – can offer something much closer.

Gnonto’s strength lays in his ability to beat defenders and Leeds aren’t exactly going to be pumping long balls into his chest for him to hold up, making his height irrelevant.

He has the pace like Rutter to get in behind and won’t take up the spaces Joel Piroe enjoys ghosting into from deep, which Bamford is more likely to do. Friday is the perfect chance to let him continue the form he has built up over this international break.