Leeds United man Pascal Struijk opens up on Harvey Elliott injury after Liverpool star returns
Pascal Struijk has shared his feelings on the horror-injury Harvey Elliott suffered when Leeds United met Liverpool in September.
The Reds’ youngster received a fractured and dislocated ankle in a challenge with the ex-Ajax man which saw him miss the next four months, before returning with a goal this month.
The 22-year-old Whites defender was sent off and banned for three games despite having won the ball, and the injured man made clear that he placed no blame on him.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post Struijk said: “I’m really pleased and I’m really happy for him that he’s back.
“His recovery has been quite quick. I’ve kept in touch with him, straight after the moment and then a couple times when I saw him improving, going onto the pitch the first time. It’s been really good, I’m really pleased to see him and the contact we’ve had is good.
“It was a bit crazy, a bit hectic after the game.
“I just blocked myself out from what was happening around it and focused on the people close to me.
“It blows by. Something else happens and then people will focus on that. We’re not always stuck on what happened yesterday, life continues and that’s what happened.”
Ready to move on
The focus is naturally on the victim of a bad injury such as the one Elliott suffered.
But incidents of this type are certain to leave a lasting effect on the other party, especially so when it is purely accidental.
While the medical care available to top level players is so advanced now a serious injury does not pose the same threat to a career as it used to, until a player successfully returns there will always be concerns over their future.
No player would want to feel responsible for that through no fault of their own, so it is encouraging that the Liverpool midfielder’s recovery and return has gone so well, and there appears to be a decent relationship between the two.
The hope among fans and teammates will be that Struijk can play on with a new freedom having had the weight lifted off his shoulders, although that has not been evident so far.
Marcelo Bielsa has played him in defence for the past four league games but the team has only won once in that time while conceding nine times.
The incident was just one of many unfortunate elements in a season that a lot of fans will just be waiting to end.
In other Leeds United news, a transfer insider has shared what he believes is standing in the way of a new contract for Kalvin Phillips.