Injury expert: Struijk may have suffered ‘fracture’ as Leeds crisis escalates
The language used by Marcelo Bielsa suggests that Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk may have suffered a “fracture” in his foot.
So says injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Struijk has missed Leeds’ last three matches after breaking down with a foot problem in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on 30 November.
Marcelo Bielsa told Leeds’ media team on Monday (13 December) that the 22-year-old’s setback was caused by “two bones in his foot colliding” and that had “never seen an injury like that”.
A Leeds source told this site today (17 December) that, with Struijk’s injury taken into account, Leeds only had eight first teamers in training yesterday.
Dinnery listed a number of possible explanations for the Dutchman’s unusual injury.
“I have question marks over this one,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“I have wondered to myself whether this is one that has been lost in translation. It’s sketchy, to say the least.
“We know Struijk has been managing a hip problem. He is a player who has been prepared to put his body on the line.
“Bielsa has said that he may only be ready to play 45 minutes of football or risk further injury. Could it be linked to that?
“Could there be some kind of altered gait? Is fatigue an issue? Is it stress-related because he’s been overloaded?
“It’s certainly not terminology that is often referenced. Does ‘bones collide’ suggest there is some kind of fracture or displacement?
“I’m a little bit lost in terms of where we are with this one. We need some further clarification.”
Struijk has featured 14 times across all competitions this term.
Leeds are coming off the back of a 7-0 thumping at the hands of Man City as they prepare to face Arsenal tomorrow (18 December).
In other news, pundit issues “big” Adam Forshaw claim after another Leeds United injury blow revealed.