‘Not going to be ready in time’ – Leeds star confirms he will miss ‘start’ of Championship games
Leeds United midfielder Adam Forshaw has confirmed he won’t be ready for “the start” of the remaining Championship games but he has left the door open to “potentially” making the last fixtures.
Forshaw has suffered from a hip injury all season and eventually succumbed to surgery, which he’s still recovering from.
Talking on the latest episode of the Leeds That podcast, Forshaw said, “Unfortunately, I’m not going to be ready in time for the start of the games but I’m desperate to be there at the games if I can and support the lads, they’re in great shape and training well.”
Asked if he might make the “end” of the nine remaining fixtures, Forshaw said, “Potentially, at the end of the day you don’t know when these games are going to finish.
“My return date is the beginning of August so if everything goes well with the games I probably won’t play again. But, if for any reason, the games go later I might have a chance.”
With all the will in the world, we can’t see Forshaw making a game this season even if they are delayed.
The midfielder – who was in good form at the start of the season – hasn’t played since the Charlton game in September.
Marcelo Bielsa is such a stickler for fitness that he would normally demand an easing in routine that would see Forshaw play in the Under-23s before making a first-team comeback.
That’s obviously impossible at the moment and unless there are severe delays, which we desperately don’t want, Forshaw will have to watch from home.
He’s said he wants to go to the games but we don’t think that will be possible either, with strict protocols over who can enter the stadiums.
The only chance for Forshaw is if he is considered fit enough for a seat on the bench, but Bielsa isn’t the sort of manager who would give up a place if a player wasn’t fit – even if it just meant he could be at the game.
Bielsa is about getting edges for Leeds and giving up a place on the bench for a player who might be needed isn’t his style.
The good news is that Forshaw will be back for the start of next season when Leeds will hopefully be back in the Premier League.
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