Leeds United to make surgery decision over on-loan Millwall defender Charlie Cresswell after West Brom fracture amid Gary Rowett update
Gary Rowett is waiting on Leeds United to decide whether to send Charlie Cresswell for surgery on the fractured eye-socket he suffered against West Brom, he told South London Press.
For a second time this season the young Whites defender suffered “major facial damage” playing in the Championship, coming off second best in an aerial challenge with Baggies striker Daryl Dike on Saturday (1 April), having needed stitches after getting kicked in the face by Oscar Estupinan of Hull City on 5 November.
The 20-year-old faces an operation or a playing in a mask, with the former possibly ruling him out for the remainder of the season after becoming a mainstay in the Lions line up.
Rowett told South London Press: “He went to see a specialist and it was too swollen for them to be definitive. We’re waiting on a prognosis for what the next step is.
“I presume the next step is either an operation, which wouldn’t be good in terms of coming back (to finish off the season), or possibly wear a mask.
“We’re waiting on that next stage until we know where we are.
“It’s quite a nasty injury and, particularly as a young player, we have got to follow whatever Leeds think is the right thing to do with Cressy. We’ll support that.”
Battling
Few at Thorp Arch will be surprised by how things have gone for Cresswell at The Den, both in terms of the physical damage suffered or the boost to his career.
That he has now received a significant facial injury twice in a season is a concern for his health, but given his playing and training style is perhaps something that he has factored into the job.
Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Joe Donnohue, upon learning of the latest issue, shared some footage from a year ago via Twitter, while suggesting Cresswell would “head a ball if you dropped it from the International Space Station”.
Far more impressive is how the former Leeds United under-21s captain has made himself a regular in Rowett’s starting XI, having had stretches in and out of the side earlier in the season leading to a possible return in January.
But since the winter window closed he hasn’t missed a league minute across the subsequent 12 Championship fixtures.
Whether he is sent for surgery which finishes his campaign or not he has proven his worth in his first sustained senior action, and whether he moves into the Elland Road first team or becomes a transfer target in the summer, he looks like he has successfully made the step up.
Millwall’s Danny McNamara accurately summed up the situation when he said, as per South London News: “It shows you the character he is, he’ll stick his head in anywhere.
“Cressy has been class, since he has come on. Every game he plays he seems to be developing and he is growing into a man. It’s a joy to play alongside him.”
In other Leeds United news, a major contract move is set to be completed in the next 24-hours at Elland Road.
Be sure to follow MOT Leeds News on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date with all the latest, breaking news from Elland Road.