Ilia Gruev backs Leeds team-mates ahead of FA Cup semi after season-ending injury | OneFootball

Leeds United midfielder Ilia Gruev will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury but has backed his team-mates to continue their impressive run before Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley. According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, he is sidelined until pre-season.

Gruev has featured in 23 league matches and in the FA Cup wins over Derby County and West Ham United, helping Leeds reach 40 points and the last four. He has made 86 appearances for the Whites and lifted a Championship title under Daniel Farke.

In a social media update he said he was gutted to miss the remainder of the campaign, would support from the sidelines and would focus on recovery to come back stronger. He also wished his colleagues well for the final games, saying the journey had been incredible.

Team-mates rallied publicly, with Gabriel Gudmundsson, Illan Meslier, Pascal Struijk and Anton Stach among those sending messages of support.

Leeds hope to have Stach available on Sunday, although as of Thursday afternoon he had not returned to team training. Late fitness tests were planned for Jayden Bogle and Sebastiaan Bornauw after midweek knocks. Bogle suffered a heavy challenge on his foot, while Bornauw rolled an ankle in the warm-up.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk