Phil Hay shares injury update on Leeds United star Raphinha after Brazil game
Phil Hay is waiting to hear news of Raphinha’s fitness but suggests the Leeds United winger only suffered from cramp while playing for Brazil this week.
On Wednesday [2 February], Raphinha scored for Brazil in their 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Paraguay.
However, he limped off in the 82nd minute after a bad tackle by a Paraguay player.
Fortunately, The Athletic journalist Hay feels as though the winger is only suffering from cramp but admits there’s a risk of an injury every time a player is called up for international duty.
“It looked like cramp,” said Hay on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show [4 February, 18m44s].
“We’re waiting to hear on that and waiting to see what the outcome is.
“But looking at him after the game, there didn’t seem to be any great issue with him particularly.”
When there was a joke about Raphinha spending two months out, Hay added: “No. I mean, it’s always the risk with international duty and if there was ever a player who could have done with a little bit of a breather, a winter break, it might’ve been him.”
Lucky break?
Leeds’ senior squad is a small one. And with injuries, it’s a tiny one.
Marcelo Bielsa treats the Under-23s squad as an extension of his senior side and has named teenagers on his bench almost all season due to the number of injuries he’s had.
Despite this, the Whites didn’t sign anyone in January to help sort out their midfield options and also their lack of goals while Patrick Bamford has been out.
Raphinha has been our best player and top goalscorer this season – if he got injured, it would be disastrous for the Yorkshire club.
Fortunately, it looks as though Raphinha didn’t go off with an injury on Wednesday night while playing for Brazil.
However, he’s someone who’s played a lot of football this season and this awkwardly-placed international break in South America has done him no favours at all.
While Raphinha’s teammates are resting up ahead of some big fixtures, he’s busting a gut trying to impress for his country and cement his place in the World Cup squad later this year.
He’s done that already with Brazil already qualified for the World Cup but one thing we love about Raphinha is how hard he works.
In other Leeds United news, a journalist has mooted financial issues at Elland Road.