Devastating blow: Leeds big-money signing could miss rest of the season - confirmed
By Richard Parks
Laurens De Bock is fighting a battle to play again this season for Leeds United, it has been confirmed.
Manager Paul Heckingbottom revealed at his media briefing today (Wednesday) that the left-back is facing a lengthy absence after suffering a hamstring tear.
Quoted on the personal Twitter account of Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent Lee Sobot, Heckingbottom gave an injury round-up and said that De Bock will be out "longer term".
The Leeds boss was also quoted by Leeds Live on their press conference blog as saying that it is a "damaging hamstring tear" and the player is "still feeling discomfort and pain".
Football Insider verdict:
De Bock has struggled to make an impact at Leeds since his move from Club Brugge in January for a fee that the Yorkshire Evening Post reported was £1.5million. But his absence is a major blow given his experience and pedigree, which is likely to become a bigger factor when he gets fully acclimatised to English football. Given Heckingbottom's comments today, it is difficult to see De Bock playing again this season. Starting with the Good Friday clash against Bolton Wanderers, Leeds have eight fixtures shoehorned into a five-week period, which ends with the clash against QPR on 6 May.
In other Leeds United news, 13 players are fighting for their jobs as behind-the-scenes planned laid for huge cull.