‘Pascal Struijk’s season is over’ – Leeds fans devastated by update

Pascal Struijk is the latest name to join Leeds United’s list of casualties and fans haven’t held back at who they think is to blame.

Leeds have a tough trip to Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium on Tuesday amid their worst run of form this season, winning seven points from their last six matches and dropping to third in the Championship.

Back-to-back-to-back draws with QPR, Swansea and Luton have seen the Whites overtaken by Sheffield United and Burnley; Leeds’ seven-point gap to third place evaporating at the worst possible time.

Daniel Farke’s men face a Middlesbrough side who have won 10 points from their last four matches, and Tuesday’s task was already difficult enough before one of their first-choice defenders was ruled out.

Daniel Farke, Leeds United
Credit: Imago

Pascal Struijk set for two-game absence after Farke update

Struijk and Joe Rodon have helped Leeds to maintain the Championship’s second-best defence despite the frequent errors of Illan Meslier behind them, with the Dutchman also adding five league goals.

PositionTeamPlayedWonDrawnLostGDPoints
1Burnley3523152+4384
2Sheffield United352677+2683
3Leeds United3523134+5182
Leeds have fallen to third in the Championship promotion race

However, the Dutchman is now set for a spell on the sidelines having limped off late in Leeds’ draw at Luton on Saturday, with Farke expressing his worry that Struijk could be out for the rest of the campaign.

In his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Boro, as shared by the club on X (7 April), Farke said: “Struijk needs to wait for further assessment – the fear is it might be a fracture, which would mean his season is over, but definitely out for next two games.”

Leeds fans take aim at transfer strategy after Struijk news

Struijk potentially missing the rest of the season does coincide with the returns to fitness of both Ethan Ampadu and Maximilian Wober – both of whom can fill in at centre-back – but still leaves a sizeable hole.

Football Insider revealed back in January that Farke was keen on bringing in Borussia Monchengladbach centre-back Nico Elvedi, but having failed to do so, Leeds will be forced into yet another reshuffle.

Struijk’s injury has therefore compounded the frustrations of Leeds fans who see their loss of form as a direct result of not strengthening in January, and with Farke’s lack of team rotation exposing their lack of depth, that argument is not unfounded.