By Danny Wright

4th Oct, 2017 | 11:41am

Manager makes shock injury revelation about Leeds midfielder

By Danny Wright

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has shockingly revealed that Eunan O’Kane had to use painkillers to get him through Leeds United’s match with Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.

O’Kane, 27, looked off the pace in what was a poor 3-0 loss for the Whites at Hillsborough and even put his hands up to concede that the third goal was his own fault.

However now, O’Neill has made it clear that the midfielder has infact suffered with cracked ribs, but played through the pain barrier regardless at the weekend.

The Leeds ace is currently away on international duty with the Irish as they look to qualify for the 2018 World Cup next summer in Russia.

They face Moldova on Friday before a vital crunch match with Wales on Monday, but O’Neill has admitted that he has doubts about O’Kane’s fitness.

“Eunan O’Kane has cracked ribs but he played with a pain-killing injection for Leeds at the weekend,” he said, as quoted by RTE.

“We’ll see how he is.”

O’Kane has been in great form for Leeds this season and has been a crucial cog in Thomas Christiansen’s midfield despite being barely used by Garry Monk when he was at the helm last term.

The seven-times Republic of Ireland international, formerly of Torquay and Bournemouth, has made 10 appearances this campaign, assisting three goals in the process.

He was left out of the squad that lost to Cardiff last Tuesday and it may be that his cracked ribs were the reason as to why Christiansen omitted him from his squad.

In other Leeds United news, this Whites player is set to miss some big fixtures after his latest injury blow.

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