Gruev fired up for Leeds’ shot at top tier return

ILIA Gruev is ready for one of the biggest games of his career at Wembley with Leeds on Sunday after his “most important goal” helped them get there.

Leeds face Southampton in the Sky Bet Championship Playoff Final with both clubs bidding to bounce straight back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Bulgaria midfielder Gruev said: “For sure, I think for a lot of players also, including me, this is going to be one of the biggest games I have played. These kind of games are why we play football.”

Leeds narrowly missed out on automatic promotion behind Leicester and Ipswich after a poor run-in, but rediscovered top form in the second leg of their play-off semi-final against Norwich.

After a goalless draw at Carrow Road, Leeds swept to a 4-0 win at Elland Road, where Gruev struck the crucial first goal with an opportunistic free-kick.

“It was early in the game and I thought the goalkeeper was not watching me, so I decided to try and score,” said the 24-year-old.

“I don’t think the goalkeeper thought that I was going to shoot, so I tried it and it went in. It was an amazing feeling. It’s probably the most important goal of my career so far.”

The former Werder Bremen player’s parents and sister will travel to Wembley from Bulgaria, while friends from Germany will also be there to cheer him on.

He said: “Obviously it will be so big. Me and the other players are working so hard for this moment because we want to play with the best players.

“For me, it would be a great experience to play in the Premier League, the best league in the world.”