Archie Gray warning for Leeds United after weekend injury nightmare for Pedri at Barcelona
Pedri’s latest injury set back at Barcelona may be a warning sign to Leeds United as they manage the development of Archie Gray.
The Spanish sensation limped away from the 0-0 draw with Athletic Bilbao at the weekend after hearing a “crack” in his leg, according to The Athletic (4 March), in another injury to the same quadriceps muscle he has already had multiple problems with.
It has led to long-term concerns over the midfielder, now 21, and turned attentions back to his marathon 2020-21 season where he played a total of 73 games for club and country and became a European sensation at 17 after moving to the Camp Nou from Las Palmas.
The Whites own 17-year-old wonderkid has emerged into the senior set up this season and not looked back as he has been outstanding in both central midfield and at right-back, and has so far played 38 club games in all competitions, plus four more for England age-group sides.
He won’t come close to the number of appearances Pedri had three seasons ago, but it would be no surprise if Daniel Farke used him in all of the remaining Championship fixtures, which could feasibly lead to three more play off games in the push for Premier League promotion.
Archie Gray a key man for Daniel Farke at Leeds United
He has even been tipped as a “dark horse” for Gareth Southgate’s summer England squad for the Euros by Paul Robinson [BBC Radio 5 via Leeds Live, 15 October], which although unlikely would push him up towards 60 games this term.
Focus on Gray’s usage has died down since the early season as he has proven himself more than capable of thriving in senior football over an excellent campaign, and showed why he is already a target for Premier League sides with a strong showing against Chelsea’s mega-money pair Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo last week.
But while he may well be able to go from strength to strength throughout this season without issue the nightmare that Pedri has had since 2021 shows that it can’t be taken for granted that Gray can simply play indefinitely over the coming years.
In the three campaigns since his mammoth 73 game stretch the Spanish star has managed only 24 and 41 games for club and country, plus 24 so far this season, with The Athletic reporting has had nine injuries and missed 71 matches in that time.
Notice may be taken at Elland Road after latest injury news at Camp Nou
Gray is physically more imposing than the diminutive Pedri, and there are examples of talents, such as former Leeds United academy graduate James Milner, who burst into first-team football at a young age and plow on without ever encountering major set-backs.
But the latest news from La Liga should be a reminder that it isn’t always that simple and Gray has already played more this season than his body is used to.
In the medium-term however Grays workload may need to be managed more closely over the next two or three seasons to ensure he doesn’t end up in the same spiral as the 2021 Golden Boy award winner.
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