Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills has admitted that he is concerned about Diego Llorente's injury problems, claiming that it could be a long-term issue.
The Lowdown: Llorente out injured again
The Whites are having to make do without the Spaniard at the moment after he limped out of the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool earlier this month.
Llorente once again went off with a hamstring issue - the third time in his last 17 games that it has happened - as his time at Elland Road continues to be frustrating.
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The Latest: Mills admit concerns
Speaking to Football Insider, Mills admitted that it is a worry and could be an ongoing problem for the centre-back. He said:
"Sometimes you have to start looking at the body. Is that a symptomatic injury that suggests there’s something more serious underline? Whether that be his back being out of line or an imbalance somewhere else. That’s a better way to look at it.
"His load will be managed and he’ll be well looked after so maybe there’s something else in the body that is throwing it out of balance and they haven’t found it yet."
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The Verdict: Becoming a problem
Llorente is an excellent defender when he is fit and firing - he was exceptional in the win at Manchester City last season, for example - but he is an injury-plagued figure and that is becoming a real issue.
It is vital that Marcelo Bielsa has a reliable centre-back pairing week in, week out to bring stability to his team and help it regain its form as an overall unit.
Instead, Llorente's problems, coupled with Robin Koch also picking up an injury and Pascal Struijk being suspended, means that such defensive stabiltiy isn't happening.
The 28-year-old is worth persevering with for now given the level of performance he can reach, but patience is beginning to wear thinner.
In other news, some Leeds fans have reacted to a club post regarding one player. Read more here.