It would be ‘huge’ if Leeds United’s Ian Poveda returns to the fold at Blackburn Rovers during the run-in, former Whites attacker Noel Whelan says.
The lowdown
Back in August, Leeds winger Poveda sealed a season-long loan move to Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
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But only eight games into his spell at Ewood Park, he suffered an ankle injury and had to undergo surgery.
Having returned to his parent club, he’s only been able to get back on the grass and step up his rehabilitation in the past few weeks.
But Graham Smyth of the Yorkshire Evening Post reports that he’s now ready to return to Blackburn ahead of their final three matches.
Manager Tony Mowbray will run the rule over Poveda and decide whether he can be of assistance in the short time that remains.
The latest
Whelan says it would be a ‘massive boost’ for the player, in terms of his mood and his physical condition, if he’s able to re-enter the fray at Blackburn.
“The fact that he could come back and finish the season – it’s such a huge thing,” he told Football Insider.
“Both for his confidence and his fitness, to finish the season strongly will be a massive boost.”
The verdict
Come the summer, Jesse Marsch and Leeds will decide if Poveda has what it takes to be a member of the first-team squad next season.
He’d scored one goal and provided two assists in four Championship starts pre-injury, and all parties would have been frustrated to see his progress curtailed.
Indeed, Mowbray had raved about the ‘wonderful talent’ before his long-term lay-off.
It could wind up being a shoot-out at Elland Road between Poveda and fellow youngster Crysencio Summerville, who’s also a right winger.
Should Marsch favour the former, then Summerville could seal a move to Rangers or Hamburg, both credited with interest.
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