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Phil Hay: Rodrigo crossing his fingers for Leeds United injury return this week
Leeds United forward Rodrigo is “crossing his fingers” to return from injury this week after over a month on the sidelines, according to The Athletic’s Phil Hay.
The Spanish forward – who is the club’s top goalscorer this season with ten league goals from 18 games – has been out of action since sustaining an ankle injury in the FA Cup victory over Accrington Stanley last month.
In his absence, Javi Gracia’s side have struggled for a consistent source of goals, finding the back of the net just once in their last four games.
Taking to his personal Twitter account (Tuesday, 7 March), Hay reported that the forward is hoping to return from injury this week or next as the club continues to fight against Premier League relegation.
He wrote: “This was shaping up to be Rodrigo’s best season at Leeds, the first where his numbers have really started to impress.
“He was crossing his fingers for a return from injury this week or next, and no-one is more likely to solve the club’s shortage of goals.”
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Leeds have sorely missed Rodrigo ever since he picked up his troublesome ankle injury, and his return to the pitch could spark new confidence at Elland Road.
The striker has quickly become a talisman for the Whites this season thanks to his goalscoring heroics, and in his absence, both Patrick Bamford and Goerginio Rutter have struggled to find the back of the net on as regular a basis.
Gracia will be hoping that Rodrigo is deemed fit enough to feature against Brighton, but the upcoming run of games that includes matches against Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace in the next month will be the main aim.
As has been the case all season long, Leeds’ attacking play hasn’t been without effort or ambition, but they just desperately need a player to put the finishing touch on each move. Rodrigo is this man, and hopefully, his return from injury can help Leeds force their way clear of the relegation zone.
In other Leeds United news, the club’s £500million takeover is due to be rubber-stamped on 1 July but is now “hanging by a thread”
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