Leeds United forward Georginio Rutter is in serious doubt for the upcoming Friday night match against Rotherham United, having sustained an abdominal strain after his return from representing France Under 21. Although manager Daniel Farke is holding off on confirming his absence, Rutter’s inability to participate in team training raises significant concerns about his availability.

Discussing the impact of the international break on his squad, Farke mentioned that some players picked up knocks. In particular, Rutter’s abdominal strain has prevented him from training with the team since rejoining them this week. Farke expressed uncertainty about Rutter’s status, stating, “He’s a major doubt. So far he was not able to train with us. We have the last test tomorrow in training.”

Despite this setback, Farke has seen positive developments with other players returning from injuries. Joe Gelhardt, Jamie Shackleton, and Djed Spence have been actively involved in team training for the past five days, providing a boost to the squad. Shackleton’s shorter absence makes his return relatively smoother, while Gelhardt and Spence, who faced more extended periods on the sidelines, are also progressing well.

In addition, Sam Byram and Pascal Struijk, initially expected to have longer recovery times, are recuperating more rapidly than anticipated. Both were back in team training, and a late decision will determine their availability based on how their bodies respond to the recent workload.

Farke is also dealing with the return of international players who may not have the opportunity for a full team training session before the Rotherham United match. The challenging circumstances, including travel and mentally demanding fixtures, contribute to the complexity of integrating these players back into the squad.

Stuart Dallas remains a long-term absentee for Leeds United due to a femur fracture suffered in April 2022, and he has not played since.