---
title: "Leeds: Noel Whelan excited by Rodrigo injury update"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-premier-league-rodrigo-injury-news-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-09-08T18:40:06Z"
modified: "2022-09-08T18:40:06Z"
---

# Leeds: Noel Whelan excited by Rodrigo injury update

**Former [Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) striker Noel Whelan is delighted with an update on Rodrigo’s injury, with the striker now expected to return sooner than expected.**

### The Lowdown: Rodrigo injury boost

The 31-year-old made a flying start to the season, [scoring four goals](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/83459/Show/Rodrigo) in five starts in the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) before injury cruelly stuck him down.

Rodrigo had to leave the pitch in the 1-1 draw at home to Everton late last month after dislocating his shoulder, with fears that he could be out of action for a long time.

Thankfully, The Athletic’s Phil Hay has since [reported](https://theathletic.com/3558221/2022/09/02/leeds-fans-discuss-the-brentford-game-with-our-writer-phil-hay/) that the Spaniard’s injury isn’t as bad at first feared, with surgery not required and a timescale of three to four weeks.

### The Latest: Whelan delighted with news

Speaking to [*Football Insider*](https://www.footballinsider247.com/leeds-united-employee-cant-believe-rodrigo-update-amid-eight-weeks-claim/), former Elland Road striker Whelan revealed his happiness at the news:

> “I was very surprised to hear that he could be back inside four weeks. I dislocated my shoulder and it actually took me more like eight weeks to get the strength up. As a forward, you use your arms a lot with jumping and running.
>
> “I’m very happy if that’s the case. Four weeks without our top scorer isn’t ideal, but it could have been a lot worse. I think he’ll be working very hard to get himself back out there and he’ll be very welcome when he does come back.”

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### The Verdict: Big positive for Whites

While Rodrigo is still going to be absent for a sustained period, the update is still so much more positive than the original prognosis, so this is an undoubted boost.

The striker has looked far more like the big-money signing that arrived at Elland Road in 2020, and with Patrick Bamford becoming increasingly injury-prone, his performances are going to be so important this season.

For now, Leeds just have to battle on without Rodrigo – the international break helps, in that respect – with youngster Joe Gelhardpt potentially stepping up to the plate before the Spaniard comes back fully fit and firing after the two-week interval.