Huge Leeds injury boost ahead of clash against Cardiff
By Harry Sykes
Kemar Roofe has been given the all-clear to return to the Leeds team against Cardiff this weekend following a rib injury.
The attacking midfielder missed Leeds’ 2-1 Championship defeat at Huddersfield last weekend with the problem that had been sustained in the win over Blackburn four days earlier.
Leeds sent Roofe to see a specialist amid fears he could be facing a spell on the sidelines.
But manager Garry Monk has revealed that a scan on Monday has showed that the 24-year-old has suffered no significant damage.
Speaking to Leeds United TV, as quoted by the club’s official Twitter account, on Thursday afternoon, Monk revealed that Monk “has been back in training” ahead of Saturday’s clash against Cardiff at Elland Road.
The return of Roofe is a huge boost as he has been an increasingly influential member of the side since overcoming a difficult start to his Elland Road career.
Monk explained that he had a fully fit squad to choose from apart from long-term absentee Charlie Taylor, who has been sidelined since mid-December with an achilles problem.
The loss of left-back Taylor for another fixture is a blow to Leeds, especially as his replacement Gaetano Berardi is a natural right-back and is out of position on the left side of the defence.
Monk’s side are aiming to get their promotion bid back on track after coming unstuck against Huddersfield in a tempestuous clash at the John Smiths Stadium last weekend.
Leeds are fifth in the table after accumulating 54 points from 30 matches, while Cardiff’s 30 games have yielded 36 points.
Taylor has missed the last 10 matches after breaking down during Leeds’ pre-Christmas win against Brentford on 17 December.
In other Leeds team news, the club came within a whisker of signing this forward on deadline day.
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