Leeds United could be set for new crisis after worrying injury news within last week
If you thought if Marcelo Bielsa’s selection crisis couldn’t get any worse, Leeds United could be set to prove you wrong.
Bielsa’s had to contend with a ridiculous number of injury issues this season with the 2-2 draw against Brentford earlier this month coming at a great cost.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein has reported that Kalvin Phillips is set for at least two months out after undergoing hamstring surgery.
Liam Cooper is also currently out with a hamstring injury [The Athletic] while Patrick Bamford, Pascal Struijk, Robin Koch and Rodrigo are set to miss a second match in a row away at Manchester City on Tuesday [Phil Hay].
Leeds’ options are absolutely decimated ahead of their trip to the Etihad – but those issues could grow worse in what is no doubt going to be a very tough fixture.
According to BBC Sport, Leeds have seven players who are one yellow card away from a one-match ban. Yes, seven.
Cooper and Rodrigo are two of them. But away from them, Junior Firpo, Raphinha, Diego Llorente, Tyler Roberts and Jamie Shackleton are all on four bookings and could be banned from the match against Arsenal on Saturday if they’re booked at the Etihad [official Premier League website].
As Leeds’ players grow more tired against a team that will no doubt run them ragged on Tuesday, the likelihood of yellow cards will surely increase.
It’s a worrying thought as after the Man City game, Bielsa’s men have three more Premier League matches to get through before the January transfer window opens. And even then, we know it can take some time for new arrivals to come in.
In other Leeds United news, the Daily Mail have done yet another awful story focusing on this Elland Road star.