Isaac Schmidt Endures Frustrating Spell at Leeds but Set for Surprise Switzerland Call-Up
Isaac Schmidt’s time at Leeds United has been far from smooth since his transfer from Swiss club St. Gallen. On Wednesday night, the full-back wasn’t even included in the squad.
An illness ruled Schmidt out of Leeds’ 2-0 victory over Millwall at Elland Road, a game that saw The Whites return to winning ways. His debut season in English football has been plagued by injuries, limiting his impact.
Signed for a significant £4.6 million fee, Schmidt has managed just nine appearances for Leeds this season. While manager Daniel Farke has praised his efforts in training, he remains third-choice in the pecking order. His only two starts have come in the FA Cup against Harrogate Town and Millwall—where he was arguably Leeds’ best performer during a 2-0 defeat to the London side in January.
Schmidt in Line for Surprise Switzerland Call-Up
Despite his limited minutes at Leeds and having yet to start a Championship game, Swiss outlet Blick reports that Schmidt is set to receive a call-up to the Switzerland national team this month.
His selection comes as a surprise, especially given that Brenden Aaronson has been omitted from the USA squad by Mauricio Pochettino. However, Schmidt remains highly regarded in his homeland following his strong performances in the Swiss league.
Switzerland manager Murat Yakin is keen to experiment with his squad over the next two weeks. Alongside Schmidt, Leeds transfer target Alvyn Sanches—who has had an outstanding season with Lausanne—could also be included.
Leeds United’s International Representation During the March Break
Leeds will see several of their players head off for international duty. Wales have called up Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, and Dan James, while Junior Firpo is set for another long trip to represent the Dominican Republic.
Japanese midfielder Ao Tanaka is in his country’s squad, while Ilia Gruev is back in contention for Bulgaria after a four-month injury absence kept him out of October and November fixtures. Meanwhile, Manor Solomon is expected to be named in Israel’s squad, and young forwards Mateo Joseph and Wilfried Gnonto are set to represent Spain and Italy’s U21 teams, respectively.
With numerous players traveling for international duty, some will remain at home, providing Farke with a chance to focus on those staying behind as Leeds continue their push for promotion.
