Phil Hay offers worrying 3-word injury update on sidelined Leeds player
Leeds United have been without Adam Forshaw since September 2019 but according to Phil Hay he is still not fit.
This comes despite him targeting an August return and, reportedly, a subsequent January loan.
It has been a very long road to recovery for the midfielder and fans have been eager to see him return to the side.
One supporter questioned The Athletic’s Phil Hay for an update, who responded that the 29-year-old is “still not ready”.
Forshaw returned to training in September but it appears his hip injury is still causing problems.
Leeds have performed well in his absence, winning promotion and settling well into the Premier League.
Later on Monday Hay tweeted to say:
Surplus to requirements?
Forshaw has had a horrendous 15 months but he is running out of time to make an impact at Leeds this season.
He was reportedly being lined up for a loan move, but if he’s still not fit, this is looking more and more unlikely.
It may take the former Middlesbrough player a run of games to get up to speed, something Leeds cannot afford, and his most likely path back to action now is with the Unser-23s.
Much of the success this season has been down to the likes of Kalvin Phillips and Mateusz Klich in midfield.
They boast WhoScored average ratings of 7.06 and 6.76 respectively, and they’re key to the way Bielsa plays.
Forshaw may find it difficult to compete with that duo, and since Leeds will be focusing on improvement, there could be additions to Bielsa’s midfield options.
As a result, even if Forshaw regains his fitness he could struggle for game time.
The next few months could prove essential, as a failure to prove his fitness could lead to the exit door, with the Whites possibly keen to cash in on a player whose contract expires in 2022.
In other Leeds United news, Paul Robinson predicts several changes ahead of FA Cup clash.