Leeds United employee suggests Struijk is ‘managing’ fitness problem after unexpected confession
Noel Whelan has claimed Pascal Struijk may still be “managing” a foot injury at Leeds United.
The former Leeds striker and club ambassador, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the medical staff at Thorp Arch would be closely monitoring the 22-year-old after his absence earlier this season.
Speaking to BBC West Yorkshire Sport last Wednesday (16 February), Struijk revealed he suffered “stress reactions” in his foot that kept him out between December and January.
The defender suggested the issue “built up” over time, rather than being suffered in a specific incident.
He revealed he had to “mix up” his recovery process to maintain fitness while “resting” the “annoying” injury.
However, Whelan suggested Struijk may still be managing the issue.
“When you when you diagnose a problem, you’ve then got to man-manage it,” Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.
“You’ve got to manage it sensibly to give you that rest and recovery time you do need on the injury that might be there so you don’t take any further.
“But at the same time, you need to keep a level of fitness.
“It might be the case that you don’t join in every intensive session that you do. You get yourself some recovery time. You’re still giving it the proper attention from the medical staff it needs, just to keep you fit.
“It just keeps you on that borderline of fitness but not taking you out of any kind of training or matchday. That’s the last thing that any player wants. If you can manage it, you’ll manage it.
“I think right now, it’s really imperative that we do look after people’s bodies. Yes, keep that level of fitness but you’ve got to be sensible and man-manage different players in different ways.
“I’m sure they’ll be getting that information from the medical staff and fitness trainers all the way through to Marcelo Bielsa. If that’s what’s required, that’s what they’ll do.”
Struijk made his 19th appearance of the season in Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United.
He has played a total of 53 for Leeds since breaking into the senior side.
In other news, Danny Mills has tipped a familiar face to replace Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United on one condition.