Gabriel Gudmundsson has finally broken his silence on the injury that sidelined him during Leeds United’s FA Cup semi-final loss to Chelsea. Speaking to Swedish outlet Hallandsporten after Graham Potter named him in Sweden’s 26-man World Cup squad, the left-back was careful not to give too much away. “It’s nothing that I can comment on,” he said when asked about the hamstring issue. For a player who is usually so open, that kind of vague response is telling.
Gabriel Gudmundsson refuses to rule himself out, but his silence says plenty
Gudmundsson wasn’t on the pitch for the recent win over Burnley or the draw against Spurs as Leeds nailed down their Premier League survival. Even so, he’s adamant he’ll be fit for international duty. “I’ve been in close contact with the national team staff and I’ll be 100% ready when the squad meets up on May 27th,” he promised.
Interestingly, he talked about his time at Elland Road this year as if it were already over. “I had a great season in Leeds where we secured the contract,” he noted, which makes it feel like he’s played his last minute of the current campaign. Leeds United still have Brighton and West Ham left on the calendar, but with safety guaranteed, Daniel Farke has no reason to risk him.
There’s even bigger news waiting for Gudmundsson this summer. He’s set to become a father for the first time while away at the World Cup, a major life moment he’s handling with his usual professionalism. “It’s a special summer. 2026 is going to be hard to beat,” he told Hallandsporten.
Do Leeds United actually need Gudmundsson fit for these final two games?
To put it simply: no. And that’s why this setup actually suits everyone. Gudmundsson has been a workhorse this year, starting 31 of his 32 league appearances and winning the majority of his individual battles on the pitch. He arrived from Lille as a bit of a wildcard, but he quickly turned into one of the most vital cogs in the Leeds machine.
His ability to fly forward as an overlapping threat gave the team a spark that no one else can quite match. It’s a telling stat that Leeds United haven’t managed a single win this season when Justin has filled in on the left. With nothing left to play for, keeping Gudmundsson on ice for the 2026/27 season is the only move that makes sense. Leeds United fans should be happy to see him head off to the World Cup fit, rather than worried about him missing these last two dead rubbers.
