Leeds United’s plans for the return of the Premier League have been given a welcome lift when it comes to player availability
That’s after midfielder Tyler Adams confirmed that he will be fully fit for the club’s clash with Newcastle United on New Year’s Eve.
Following his summer move to Elland Road, Adams enjoyed an excellent first half of the season with Leeds, before winning plenty of praise while captaining the USA at the World Cup.
The 23-year-old helped his country to the Round of 16 phase, where they were eliminated by the Netherlands, though he did suffer a calf strain in that defeat.
That means he has yet to feature in the club’s mid-season friendlies, while he will be suspended for their first Premier League game back, against Manchester City on the 28th December.
However, it now seems as though the American international is well on track to return for the match after that, when Leeds go to St James’ Park on the final day of 2022.
Providing an update on his fitness in the lead-up to that game, Adams was quoted by The Yorkshire Evening Post as saying: “I just had a little bit of a knock in the last game against Netherlands, just in my calf so I’m just coming back from that a little bit.
“But it’s not bothering me any more. I feel good, I feel sharp. I played every minute of all four games at the World Cup and they were very demanding games.
“You leave everything out there on the field and after that I got seven days to kind of just mentally shut off a little bit.
“But still the body was catching up to everything when I came back, so the coach and the medical staff are giving me a couple more days extra here now.
“Obviously I’m suspended against Man City as well so I have been doing a little bit of individual work to stay sharp but I’m catching up. I can’t play against City, but Newcastle – I’ll 100 per cent be ready for Newcastle. No problem.”
This will be a big relief for those of a Leeds United persuasion.
Adams has been outstanding ever since his arrival in the Premier League in the summer, and continued to show that ability on the World stage with the USA at the World Cup.
As a result, it is a huge boost for Leeds to have him back and available as soon as possible, especially given that looks like being a difficult game against Newcastle.
Indeed, you do have to give Adams credit for his desire to get fit in time for that match, and there will no doubt be plenty of Leeds fans keen to see him back in their shirt for that one.
