Simon Grayson`s injury ravaged side finally shows signs of getting better with a number of first team players looking to return over the next few weeks.
Leeds went into last weekend`s game without ten first team players with Kasper Schmeichel, Leigh Bromby, Aiden White, Patrick Kisnorbo, Federico Bessone, Ben Parker, Paul Connolly, Lloyd Sam, Billy Paynter and Ross McCormack all out through injury.
Things were made worse during the defeat at Ipswich when Shane Higgs, who has been deputising for the injured Kasper Schmeichel, went off with a hamstring injury.
Alex Bruce also received his marching orders and with six defenders already on the sidelines left Grayson struggling for cover at the back.
The international break came at the right time for Leeds, with Grayson having two weeks to see players return to training and pushing for selection for the Middlesbrough game.
Grayson as already been boosted this week with the return to training of defender Ben Parker who has endured fourteen months of injury problems.
Parker suffered an injury on the opening day of last season and did not start another game until the penultimate home game of the season, when he suffered a fresh injury that has ruled him out until now.
The left back is all set to play in a behind closed door friendly on Thursday as he starts the long road back to full fitness.
Grayson doesn`t want to rush back Parker after all his injuries, speaking on the official website, Grayson said, “He`s getting back. He`s been doing some training with us and training with the kids. He`s had a long time out and we can`t rush him back.”
Also back in training this week is right back Paul Connolly who has missed the last four games since the defeat at Barnsley with a hamstring injury.
Federico Bessone also hasn`t featured since the Barnsley game through injury and is expected to resume training on Monday along with Ross McCormack and Lloyd Sam who missed Leeds last outing through injury.
Leeds recently extended the loan of goalkeeper Jason Brown from Blackburn Rovers after he replaced the injured Higgs at Ipswich.
With Higgs likely to spend at least a couple of weeks on the sidelines with his hamstring injury and Kasper Schmeichel also expected to be on the sidelines for a further two weeks, Grayson might look to bring in another goalkeeper to back up Brown.
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