Leeds United handed World Cup boost as Gabriel Gudmundsson 'should be able to play' after illness | OneFootball

Gabriel Gudmundsson looks to have shaken off illness in time for Sweden’s World Cup opener tonight, handing Leeds United a timely boost.

Sweden face Tunisia in Guadalupe at three am UK time on Monday. Ahead of the game, the Sweden Herald quoted head coach Graham Potter saying everyone was available and that if Gudmundsson trained well today he should be able to play.

The 27-year-old had only just returned from a five-week lay-off after a hamstring injury in Leeds’ FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea in April. He logged 63 minutes in a pre-tournament friendly draw with Greece, then fell ill.

Earlier in the week he was described as being in a bad state and was thought to be isolating in a hotel room.

Gudmundsson could be among the first Leeds players to feature at this World Cup and would be expected to start if fit. He is Potter’s preferred option at left wing-back, having started both qualifying play-off matches against Ukraine and Poland in March.

A few hours earlier Japan face the Netherlands, with Ao Tanaka hoping to be the first Elland Road regular to see minutes. He shares a group with Gudmundsson, the pair due to meet in the third and final group game.

Brenden Aaronson and Noah Okafor were unused in their nations’ openers. The USA beat Paraguay 4-1 on Friday, while Switzerland drew 1-1 with Qatar overnight.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk