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3 knock-on effects midfielder news will have on Leeds United

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Leeds United have welcomed back Adam Forshaw to pre-season after a brutal two seasons of constant injury setbacks and uncertainty.

The Championship-winning season was a strange one for Leeds and the world of football, with the calendar extended to the back end of July for the league fixtures to be completed.

However, along the way, Adam Forshaw was a player that simply couldn’t keep himself fit as he dealt with a peculiar hip injury that was initially assumed to be a minor setback.

Since September 2019, Forshaw has not kicked a football for the first team after he was forced into surgery and he’s only managed to feature once for the under-23s, at the back end of the season just gone.

He’s looking ahead to this season hoping for a part to play in the Premier League after images emerged of him taking part in pre-season training with the squad:

https://twitter.com/LUFC_Photos_/status/1417988409235316736?s=20

It’s a huge boost to the depth of Leeds’ midfield heading into the 2021/22 season, and it could impact how the squad develops heading into the new season…

Here, we take a look at three knock-on effects to Forshaw’s return to senior football

Extra depth

George Wood/Getty Images Sport

Marcelo Bielsa’s squad is thin at the best of times but when injuries are rife, there’s a lot of concern about how we find cover.

Forshaw’s role might not have been vital to the squad but before his injury, he was a regular who Bielsa could rely on.

Having him back in the side means that we might not have to shoehorn players into positions that they might not be as comfortable in.

Granted, the lack of Forshaw might have indirectly led to the impact Stuart Dallas had in his position, but it’s better to have more players available than not.

It’s one less thing to have to worry about when it comes to the Argentine’s selection headaches.

His ball retention

While Kalvin Phillips has been outstanding in progressing the ball and helping Leeds control possession, Forshaw was just as important in retaining the ball for Leeds.

His low centre of gravity allows him to receive the ball under a lot of pressure and come away in space, finding a teammate.

Leeds have been brilliant at holding onto leads under Bielsa and he’s another that is vital to Leeds dictating the flow of a game.

He’s not just a ‘sideways and backwards’ midfielder either and has been able to progress the ball well upfield, something that would be improved by the better quality of players we now have in attack.

Less pressure on a new signing?

It is quite obvious that Leeds could do with another addition in the same position as Forshaw this summer and there is no suggestion that the club won’t bring one in.

There is no issue with Mateusz Klich starting, given the quality he has shown so far in the top flight, but again, it’s a case of how we would cope if injury struck.

Adding a player of real quality would be key, but Victor Orta has been tentative in his scouting and not rushed into any deal.

What Forshaw’s presence allows us to do is be more patient in the market and ensure we get the right man in to backup the midfield, knowing he has sufficient quality to cover in the meantime.

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Leeds United season ticket holder since 2013/14, currently situated in the middle of the FA5 noise. From Pablo Hernandez to 5-1 drubbings, I've seen it all at Elland Road.