Whelan bemoans ‘another setback’ for Rodrigo after Bielsa latest on Leeds ‘freak injury’
Noel Whelan has admitted there is no telling when Rodrigo will be back for Leeds United after a “freak injury” blow.
The former Leeds striker and club ambassador, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 30-year-old’s latest “setback” is another “frustrating problem” for the Whites.
Speaking at his press conference on Monday (14 December), Marcelo Bielsa confirmed Rodrigo is still out with a heel injury.
The Argentine boss admitted he had not seen an injury like it “in many years” and that specialists state there are “very few cases like this yearly”.
Whelan insisted Leeds would not take a gamble until he is fully over the problem.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “You’re looking at one of these kinds of injuries where it’s an unknown.
“It’s a very crucial part for a football player, absolutely. It’s one of those where you don’t have much protection around it. Whatever you feel, it’s very raw and very sore. You feel all of it.
“We’re getting these kinds of injuries, these kinds of freak injuries to key players. This again is a really frustrating problem to have because we can’t choose the best players we have.
“Rodrigo, he’s not getting that kind of pathway where he’s getting a lot of games underneath his belt. Getting that continuity with the players, that consistency of performance and games.
“It’s another setback. Whether he can go out there and deal with the pain, I know back in the day, we used to. Whether they would chance that I’m not so sure. Probably not.”
Rodrigo sat out the 3-2 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday (11 December).
He has made 12 Premier League appearances this season, scoring twice.
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