Daniel Farke reports that Sam Byram, a defender for Leeds United, has resumed training and will be available to play against Southampton in the playoff final.
After playing the whole first game, the adaptable defender was sidelined for the second leg of the Whites’ semi-final matchup with Norwich City due to injury. Archie Gray filled in at right back, as he frequently does.
Although the Leeds manager has announced that Patrick Bamford will not be available for Sunday’s (May 26) match, he does not have any additional concerns about Bamford’s fitness. Pascal Struijk is the only other first-team player who is out. “It seems every other player will be available including Sam Byram, who returned to team training yesterday,” he remarked during a press conference on Friday, May 24.
Sam Byram’s match against Southampton at Wembley: Will Leeds United and Daniel Farke start him?
Farke would be hesitant to deviate too much from the strategy that worked so well for him against the Canaries in their previous meeting because Leeds United outperformed Norwich in their semi-final match at Elland Road.
Especially considering that Gray’s performance at right-back won him both praise and criticism from experts and supporters, with some comparing his ball-handling and non-ball play to that of the greatest defenders in history.
That’s why Farke might want to keep the teenager in the lineup. But at least now that Byram is healthy again, he has choices again and might even surprise Saints manager Russell Martin.
Given Junior Firpo’s horrific experience against Southampton on the final day of the season, Byram might even start in left defense for Sunday’s Wembley final. Farke may decide to remove him from the firing line. In other Leeds United news, if the Whites lose their playoff matchup with Southampton, it is predicted that Farke will be fired.
