Medical expert: Stuart Dallas could be out for an extended period after ‘massive’ Leeds news
Stuart Dallas does not “limps off for the slightest knock or niggle” – and that may indicate he is set for an extended period out for Leeds United.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Dallas has started all but one of Leeds’ 23 league games in 2021-22 but was forced off early in the 3-0 defeat to Everton last Saturday (12 February).
Manager Marcelo Bielsa did not disclose the specifics of the 30-year-old’s issue but told Leeds Live after the match that it was a “massive blow”.
The Northern Irishman’s stellar availability record would suggest that he has suffered a significant setback, claims Dinnery.
“There wasn’t anything massively evident in terms of the mechanism of injury,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“The fact that he walked off isn’t necessarily a good indication of the severity of the injury.
“However, he is a very robust player. Dallas has played just under 2,000 minutes this season. That’s the most for an outfield player at Leeds.
“He was the player who played the most last season as well with 3,5000. Even the season before that, only Ben White played more minutes.
“So he is a player who can tolerate the demands of the game. He isn’t someone who limps off for the slightest knock or niggle.
“That itself gives us a clue that it wasn’t something of nothing. For him to be forced off, you suspect it isn’t just a two or three-day turnaround.”
Dallas’ 26 appearances this term have yielded one goal and one assist.
He was named Leeds’ Player of the Year for 2020-21.
In other news, Kevin Phillips suggests Leeds United could be “haunted” by “bizarre” Bielsa decision.