Leeds United employee fears ‘season-ending’ Leo Hjelde injury after surgery reveal
Noel Whelan has suggested Leeds United could be without Leo Hjelde until the end of the season if he has to undergo surgery.
The former Whites hitman, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, urged the 18-year-old to “stay positive” as he waits to learn his injury fate.
Hjelde limped off during Leeds United’s 3-0 defeat away at Everton last Saturday after being brought on for the stricken Stuart Dallas as a first-half substitute.
As per Leeds Live (18 February), manager Marcelo Bielsa revealed that the Norwegian youngster will attempt to let the injury heal for three weeks before deciding whether to go under the knife.
Whelan bemoaned Leeds United’s continual struggles with injury as “pressure” continues to grow at the wrong end of the table.
“It’s more of a mental process, you’ve got to stay positive with it,” he told Football Insider‘s Russell Edge.
“Three weeks is a long time to wait before finding out if you’re going to need surgery, but it does give you that 50/50 window to see if your body can recover from the injury.
“Obviously surgery is a last resort because that means you’re going to be out until the back end of the season – probably the end of the season.
“Fingers crossed that he takes these three weeks and doesn’t need to go under the knife. We’ve had so many injuries and operations this season, it’s becoming a bit of a trend.
“It seems to be the case at the moment that one player comes back, and we lose another.
“We’re down there and there’s pressure on us – so we need all the experienced heads we can.”
Leeds United face fierce rivals Manchester United at Elland Road tomorrow (20 February).
In other news, pundit predicts Whites are set to fix a “big problem” after “massive” injury update.