‘Just had confirmation’ – Phil Hay details new injury to Leeds first-team player
Leeds United left-back Barry Douglas picked up a “minor calf injury” ahead of the game against Cardiff, according to Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
While he wasn’t expected to start, it was a surprise to see Douglas missing from the squad of 20 for the Championship clash on Sunday.
It got fans talking about whether it signalled the end of his Leeds career but Hay quickly put that speculation to bed.
Writing on The Athletic Hay said, “Just had confirmation from Leeds that he’s got a minor calf injury. Not major and should train next week.”
Sunday shouts premature but Douglas time could be up in summer
Douglas hasn’t been able to put himself in the reckoning for a first-team slot this season and we think he will be on his way out at the end of the season.
He cost Leeds £3m after helping the midlands side back to the Premier League and Whites fans thought he would help spearhead the exact same trajectory for his new side.
However, he just isn’t the same player who marauded the flanks for Wolves.
Douglas got 15 assists and five goals in 42 games with Wolves. He’s got five assists and no goals in 39 games for Leeds.
20-year-old Leif Davis was on the bench and he’s a young talent who represents the future at Leeds.
Meanwhile, Douglas has 12 months left on his contract and this is the last window Leeds can command a decent fee for the player.
If one first-teamer is going to leave Elland Road in the summer we think it’s Douglas. Wolves didn’t think he was good enough for the Premier League. Marcelo Bielsa obviously doesn’t think he’s good enough for the Championship with Leeds.
Left-back has been a problem position for Leeds and while Stuart Dallas has been excellent there this season, the fact a utility player has replaced Douglas was a sign the writing was on the wall.
There seems no way back now and it’s definitely a position that Leeds will be looking to strengthen ahead of next season.
In other Leeds United news, ‘I’m sick of this’ – Adrian Durham comes out swinging for Leeds after major controversy emerges