Leeds United’s out on loan midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi was handed a major boost on Sunday as he returned to the Greuther Furth squad for their defeat to VFL Bochum.
The Japanese international joined the second tier German side on loan last summer on a temporary basis having yet to make an appearance for his parent club, but suffered cruciate ligament damage early in his new side’s campaign to force him to the sidelines.
However Sunday saw the forgotten Elland Road man return to the squad on Sunday (14/04), as confirmed on the club’s official Twitter account, and was left as an unused substitute while his teammates succumbed to a dramatic 3-2 defeat, Bochum scoring a last minute winner.
Hey Yosuke!#Ideguchi is back in the squad.#kleeblatt#BOCSGF pic.twitter.com/RPGbAA3bnj
— SPVGG GREUTHER FÜRTH (@kleeblattfuerth) April 14, 2019
Opinion
Ideguchi has had a nightmare time in Germany and he might well have rather sat on the sidelines at Elland Road, trying to force his way into the plans of Marcelo Bielsa. His time away from the club was no doubt a bid to try and get him playing some regular football but unfortunately injury has torn those plans to shreds. His comeback on Sunday, albeit just as a substitute option, is a great sign for the midfielder and he will now be looking to make an impact in Germany before the season is out. Perhaps some decent performances will earn him a chance to prove himself in England once again, for at the moment he is looking like a waste of money at Elland Road. Leeds need to make a decision on what they are going to do with him in the summer and the clock is ticking for him to make a case as to why he should stay on board at the club.