JUST IN: A Leeds player admits that his initial few months at Elland Road were quite challenging….

At Leeds United, Daniel Farke has preferred to use the same starting lineup for the majority of the season.

Changes were only really enforced when the timetable appeared hectic, as Farke had by now established a lineup that he trusted by the end of October.

Unfortunately, this has meant that certain players on the team haven’t played as frequently as they would have wanted, thus they have had to wait patiently for their chance.

Among the players who have been on the periphery are Willy Gnonto, Jaidon Anthony, Patrick Bamford, and Ilia Gruev; the latter has now shared his thoughts on the experience.Gruev cost £5 million to acquire from Werder Bremen in the summer, but until the start of the new year, he only started two games because of Ethan Ampadu’s performance.

In an interview with the Official Leeds United Podcast, Gruev acknowledged that his early struggles at Elland Road were a result of his will to compete and prove his abilities.

“To be very honest, it wasn’t that simple for me since my German buddies come here to play football, and when you’re not playing, it’s difficult and stressful moments.

You tell yourself that you must work today because you are a professional and that you must seize each opportunity that presents itself. I believe I made the most of my playing time when I was given the opportunity, but it wasn’t always