By Mark Smith

29th Sep, 2020 | 1:10pm

'Club sources say' – Reliable journalist delivers upbeat Leeds fitness update

Marcelo Bielsa shared that Leeds United midfielder Adam Forshaw had suffered another setback during his injury rehabilitation last week.

The Whites midfielder has been out for a year after surgery on his hip, but could now be out until November with another complaint.

Leeds Live journalist Beren Cross has reported that club sources have shared that the setback isn’t as bad as Bielsa made out in his last press conference.

Writing in a Leeds Live Q&A, Cross shared the response of club sources at Elland Road to the comments, which will bring a sigh of relief from many fans.

“It’s been a really tough time for Forshaw,” he said.

“A full year since he last played. Nearly 10 months since surgery in the US. There were signs of life when he appeared with the rest of the team on a Thorp Arch video earlier this month, but then Bielsa’s comments suggest he had another setback.

“Club sources say it is not as bad as Bielsa made it sound. I have hope he will play this season.”

Looking back at what Bielsa said when he broke the news, he claimed that Forshaw will need four or five games with the under-23s before he returns.

That would take us into November before he could potentially return, but with club sources claiming it isn’t that bad, could that change?

We don’t expect it to change much, with Bielsa very strict on the recovery of his players, and the level they need to reach before returning to the matchday squad.

Even if Forshaw was declared fully fit from his medical staff, Bielsa will still throw the midfielder into the under-23s to get his match fitness up – so even with this positive update, we should still expect a lengthy lay-off.

In other Leeds United news, Sky Sports journalist shares major update on Whites’ pursuit of Michael Cuisance

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