OPINION
Leeds United fans will have a big reason to sweat their Under-23s line-up for the game against Colchester United tonight – and it’s not just because they’ve been starved of club football this week.
Kemar Roofe is on the verge of a return to full-fitness, with manager Marcelo Bielsa revealing ahead of the Sheffield United game that he was in the “final stages of recovery”.
Leeds fans will be desperate to have him back for the next Championship fixture against Millwall on Saturday and if he plays a part in the Under-23s clash tonight, there’s every chance he’ll be involved on Saturday – at least from the bench.
That’s been the usual route back for the legion of injured Leeds players this season – few have returned straight to the first-team without at least one outing for the Under-23s. Especially players who have had a prolonged spell on the sidelines, and Roofe has been out for six games.
If he doesn’t play any part in the Under-23s game, then we don’t think he’ll even make the bench on Saturday.
Roofe wasn’t expected back until April and a return at the end of March would be a huge boost for Leeds. The striker himself said on the Chris Moyle’s Breakfast Show on Radio X (9.30am, Friday Feb 21st) that he was targeting the “final six or seven games” of the season. Well, Leeds now have eight games left to secure a top-two spot and every player counts, especially when he’s your top scorer.