Glandular fever stands between Illan Meslier and Leeds United’s clash with Manchester City later this month, though Jesse Marsch remains hopeful the squad’s injury issues will clear before that match. Crysencio Summerville and Sonny Perkins were the latest United players to limp off with issues in the win over Elche on Thursday night.
While Leeds were missing Rasmus Kristensen, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson for their friendly because of the World Cup, Meslier, Robin Koch and Patrick Bamford were the other starters absent through illness and injury. Junior Firpo and Diego Llorente, both in Spain, were also missing from the match.
“Illan: you guys call it glandular fever, we call it mono,” said Marsch. “We're trying to be safe with him, but also measure him appropriately and see.
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“It'll be close when we can get him back into training days to a week before Man City. Junior Firpo wasn't as bad as we initially thought, so he actually travelled here and he will be close to training next week.
“Patrick Bamford had a successful surgery. We think he'll be ready in about 10 days. Robin will be ready to train in the week. Hopefully, Cree’s not too bad.
“Diego's hand: he had successful surgery and they say two weeks after the surgery he can start participating in training so that shouldn't last too long. For the most part, we should be able to get most of the guys back in training before we play our first match against Man City, maybe even 10 days before.”
He added: “Sonny Perkins, maybe a little bit of a calf issue, but hopefully it's not so bad.”
The Whites fly back to the UK tomorrow before building up in training once again for friendlies with Real Sociedad and Monaco at Elland Road before Pep Guardiola’s side arrive.
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