:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55637229/452222930.0.jpg)
After appearing against Harrogate Town in the midweek preseason match, many Leeds United fans found it odd that new signing Mateusz Klich did not feature at Nethermoor for the preseason match against Guiseley AFC. Klich was one of the first “big” transfers at the club, after the announcement of Victor Orta as the Director of Football and Thomas Christiansen as Head Coach.
After the match, it was revealed that Kilch had suffered a muscle problem, and was unable to play. Leeds Head Coach Thomas Christiansen said that “He is not OK” when asked about Klich’s status and why he was held out of the preseason match. Christiansen told LUTV, as quoted by The Yorkshire Evening Post:
It’s important in pre-season that players aren’t out too long. If we risk him now and he gets injured again he will lose the whole of pre-season. That will affect his whole season because if you don’t have the balance, the basic fitness from pre-season, you will suffer over the whole season
Cooper/Sacko picked up knocks but not serious. Klich has a muscle problem. Christiansen didn't want to risk him today. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) July 8, 2017
Now while this could be much ado about nothing, it is a little worrying that Klich was injured after only 45 minutes in a friendly against Harrogate Town. While Leeds have been linked with a number of players during the summer transfer window, few have the pedigree that Klich has, having played in the Eredivisie with both FC Zwolle and with FC Twente. He had also spent time in the reserves of Bundesliga side Wolfsburg and played for 2.Bundesliga side 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
Klich can provide an attacking presence to the center of midfield that most of the other central midfielders cannot. Pablo Hernandez is one of the true attacking midfielders on the team, and while he played well last season, he seemed to fade as the season progressed. Klich coming in was supposed to provide either an option as a creative force to replace or supplant Hernandez, and a nagging injury in preseason could keep Klich from full fitness all season. Let’s hope this was nothing major and that he’ll be fine for the opening fixture against Bolton Wanderers.