Phil Hay: Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk dealing with new hamstring injury
Phil Hay has shared that Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk has been dealing with a hamstring injury in recent weeks.
The Athletic journalist also reported that the Dutch colossal had been struck by COVID-19 during the international break too.
It cost Struijk a place in the starting XI for the 1-1 draw with Southampton, and he came on for the final few minutes at Elland Road.
Writing in his latest column for The Athletic on Monday [04 April], Hay shared the problems facing the defender recently.
“Struijk returned a positive COVID-19 test during the international break and experienced a hamstring niggle too,” he wrote.
“So, the rationale behind the pre-match selection was less simple than a basic pecking order but Marsch was essentially picking between two defenders who were not entirely match fit.”
Blow.
With Struijk on the bench, it was clear that he wasn’t match fit against Southampton, and was only there for necessity.
If Luke Ayling didn’t go down injured himself in the final minutes, it would have been Liam Cooper who went off.
With Robin Koch also available off the bench, he could have been used centrally in that scenario, not risking Struijk.
Instead, the Dutchman was needed to fill in at left-back and thankfully wasn’t put through anything too stressful on his hamstring.
That only would have caused more damage, and if he takes it easy this week recovering, he should be back to 100% with no problem.
Jesse Marsch now has options all over the park, and hopefully, that can catapult us to a huge three points against Watford on Saturday.
In other Leeds United news, Kalvin Phillips has delivered a major new contract update in a message to the Elland Road board