Dan Carter

Wed 30 August 2023 6:40, UK

Leeds United defender Sam Byram has been ruled out with injury for the next three weeks after he missed the Carabao Cup match against Salford City, according to Phil Hay.

The Athletic reporter shared via his personal Twitter account on Tuesday (29 August) that the full-back wasn’t ready to feature for Daniel Farke’s side’s visit to Salford and wouldn’t be fit to play against Sheffield Wednesday before the international break.

Byram was withdrawn in the 24th minute of Leeds’ 4-3 win against Ipswich Town at Portman Road with an adductor strain and will miss the next two to three weeks, but United have two weeks without a fixture once the September international break begins on 3 September.

The 29-year-old joined the ranks at Elland Road this summer as a free agent on a one-year deal, with the intent of providing cover across both full-back positions, however, his injury leaves the Whites short of options.

Good timing

There is never a good time for a player to pick up an injury but Leeds could have lost Byram at a much worse time than they have done this season, with the trips to Salford and the showdown with Sheffield Wednesday some of their easier matches on paper this season.

The former Norwich man has been impressive since he arrived at Elland Road on a short-term deal and has provided a new and consistent option in defence and there is no doubt his versatility will be missed while he is sidelined.

But Farke and the Leeds recruitment team seem to have acted incredibly quickly to ensure they have plenty of cover, with Djed Spence set to join the ranks on a season-long loan from Tottenham this summer to offer more cover at full-back.

While it is yet another conventional right-back rather than a left-back, Leeds are looking well stocked in the wide areas of defence as the end of the transfer window looms and the imminent return of Byram only aids that cause further.

In other Leeds United news, one Leeds target has told his club he doesn’t want to leave this summer