Leeds United have unfortunately encountered a drop-off in form at the worst possible time of the season.
Heading into the March international break, Leeds had looked unstoppable with a 12th win in 13 matches taking them top of the table on 82 points.
However, since the return of the club football, Leeds have picked up just eight points in as many matches are now relying on a miracle on the final day this weekend to finish in second place.
Not only did five members of Leeds’ squad have their dream of playing this summer’s EUROs ended during that break, but three also returned from representing their respective countries with injuries.
Georginio Rutter was also forced to undergo minor surgery and Leeds just have not been able to get back on track since then, meaning they will have to settle for the play-offs.
Farke says 22-year-old Leeds player has been looking much better in training lately
Due to the period of the season, Farke probably felt slightly obliged to rush some of his players back from injury last month.
Willy Gnonto, Connor Roberts and Ilia Gruev all returned considerably earlier than expected, while Rutter barely even had 10 days to recover from surgery on a hernia.
That injury had been affecting Rutter for a number of weeks but itwould be fair to say he has been considerably below his best since going under the knife, perhaps even more so than before.
Having said that, it is completely understandable. The 22-year-old had practically no time to recover before being thrust back into a hectic schedule as one of Leeds’ main men.
Speaking in his pre-Southampton press conference earlier today, Farke acknowledged Rutter’s below-par performances recently but believes he has been getting better and better every day on the training pitch.
He is hopeful the Frenchman will be at his best in the play-offs, if that is where Leeds end up.
He said: “If it doesn’t work on the last game then we are also upbeat for the play-offs. We are optimistic because we hope then to have some of our key players back. Then key players like Georgi Rutter for example, after surgery of course you need two or three weeks until you are back to your best shape.
“You could sense in training each and every day helps him, I’m carefully optimistic I will have my key players in the perfect shape to this crucial crunch time games.”
