Phil Hay ‘surprised’ by what he saw happen to Willy Gnonto amid Leeds United injury worry
Phil Hay has revealed he was “surprised” to see Willy Gnonto come back on for Leeds United after suffering an injury against Hull City on Wednesday (20 September).
Speaking on The Square Ball podcast on Friday (22 September), the Athletic journalist said the Italian international “didn’t look great” when he was testing out his ankle on the side of the pitch.
He added that the 19-year-old forward looked likely to come off as soon as he returned to the field, having been replaced by Crysencio Summerville just minutes later in the 0-0 at the MKM Stadium.
“I was quite surprised he came back on,” said Hay. “Watching him run up and down the touchline, the physio Henry McStay was telling him to do a bit of jogging, give it a test.
“It didn’t look great and, as soon as he came back on, you thought this would go for five minutes and he’ll sit down at some point and he’ll come off, which he did.”
Looked uncomfortable
It seemed pretty inevitable from the moment Gnonto went down that he was eventually going to have to make his way off the field.
He was in clear discomfort as soon as he came together with Hull midfielder Regan Slater, having been down receiving treatment from the physio.
The forward tried to battle through the pain and continue, but it never really looked like he was going to be able to play on and he was eventually substituted.
While he may not have aggravated the ankle injury further when he did return to the field briefly, it was a risk that perhaps wasn’t worth taking.
The Whites will now be hoping to receive positive news after he has been assessed, but Summerville will be eagerly waiting to come in for him after the Dutchman impressed in his appearance off the bench against the Tigers.
In other Leeds United news, one player could be set for a permanent Whites exit following an £82million development.