RISING star Crysencio Summerville resumes Leeds United training this week, with a Premier League return to action against Manchester City in his sights.
Wednesday’s friendly against AS Monaco at Elland Road (7pm) may come too soon for him to start, after an ankle injury ruled him out of Friday's 2-1 home win against Real Sociedad.
He certainly will not be risked against the French side in the final mid-season friendly if not fully fit, ahead of the visit of the champions on Wednesday, December 28 (8pm).
The flying Dutchman has scored in each of his last four Premier League matches – two of them late winners – and Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch will be keen for the 21-year-old to pick up where he left off before the World Cup break.
Summerville picked up the injury during Leeds’ 2-1 win over Elche earlier this month and was later pictured in a protective boot.
He was among 11 absentees for the Sociedad clash, including winger Jack Harrison, who felt muscle tightening during the warm-up.
Harrison, who is expected to feature against Monaco, was replaced by teenager Willy Gnonto, one of United’s stand-out players.
The match proved a competitive one against a typical Spanish possession-based side who, for all their midfield mastery, carried little threat up front.
Ironically the Leeds winner came from Rodrigo. Spain may have missed a trick by not taking him to Qatar where they lacked penetration.
He calmly grabbed the winner just before the hour after Real’s defence struggled to cut out a through ball which bounced into the striker’s path.
At the back, Luke Ayling partnered skipper Liam Cooper, but that failed to prevent the visitors exploiting the Whites’ weakness at set-pieces.
Martin Zubimendi headed in a perfectly-flighted free-kick by Brais Mendez on 10 minutes.
Pascal Struijk thumped home a glorious equaliser from the edge of the box six minutes later after being teed-up by Marc Roca.
Although Real probed through former Manchester City star David Silva, goalkeeper Joel Robles was rarely tested.
Both sides made wholesale changes and some of United’s younger players gave Marsch food for thought.
Tyler Adams will miss the match against Pep Guardiola’s men through suspension with Adam Forshaw, his likely replacement, struggling against Real Sociedad. Taking his place, the younger Sam Greenwood showed up well.
The pick of the substitutes was right-back Cody Drameh at right-back, who has been consistently linked with a move away in January after getting little game time under Marsch.
Another rumoured departing player, Mateusz Klich, played the full 90 minutes, despite being linked with a switch to DC United.
It has since been interpreted in some quarters that the Polish international may yet remain at Elland Road.
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