Leeds United youngster Leo Hjelde could have to have surgery on a knee injury currently keeping him sidelined, according to journalist Phil Hay.
The Lowdown: Injury-plagued season
The Whites have had a season to forget in their second year back in the Premier League, failing to kick on from last season’s ninth-place finish.
Instead, Leeds find themselves in a relegation fight, sitting 15th in the table and struggling to string together a convincing run of form throughout the campaign.
Injuries have played a big part in their struggles, however, with numerous figures missing at different times, whether it be Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips or Patrick Bamford, among others.
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The Latest: Hjelde could need surgery
The latest blow has seen Hjelde sidelined with a knee issue, and according to Hay on Twitter on Friday, the 18-year-old defender could require surgery:
“Hjelde has a knee problem but Leeds hoping that he’ll recover from it in the next three weeks. Bielsa says that if he doesn’t, he might have to have surgery.”
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The Verdict: Focus on next season
The news is a clear setback for Hjelde, who is talented enough to draw comparisons to Liverpool superstar Virgil van Dijk, but from a Leeds perspective, there could be more important players to miss.
At 18, the Norwegian isn’t yet a key man and the likes of Pascal Struijk and Robin Koch are available at the back for the Whites, while Cooper is expected to return soon and Junior Firpo is returning to fill the left-back spot.
The hope is that surgery isn’t needed, but if it is, the club would be foolish to rush such a young player back, and the focus should now be on making sure he is fully fit and firing come pre-season for the new campaign in the summer.
In other news, one Leeds player could feature against Manchester United. Find out who it is here.