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Leeds: Leo Hjelde could miss rest of the season
Promising Leeds United centre-back Leo Hjelde could miss the rest of the 2021/22 season through injury, according to expert Ben Dinnery.
The Lowdown: Injury setback for Hjelde
The 18-year-old is seen as a hugely exciting youngster at Elland Road, with his former Ross County manager John Hughes describing him as a ‘fantastic’ addition for the Whites upon signing him.
Hjelde has only made three appearances for Leeds this season and unfortunately he has suffered a severe setback, having picked up a leg injury against Everton.
It remains to be seen if the Norwegian will require surgery but the current situation doesn’t look positive.
The Latest: Expert makes worrying claim over Hjelde injury
Speaking to Football Insider, injury expert Dinnery even hinted that Hjelde’s season could be over, especially if surgery is needed. He outlined:
“We don’t have a definitive diagnosis here, so we’re trying to read between the lines. In terms of the mechanism, it happened quite late in the game. Based on what we’ve seen in the past, it could be related to his meniscus.
“If that’s the case, they will try to manage it conservatively in this three-week period. The other option is surgical intervention, which is a real possibility.
“We’re two-thirds of the way through the season. Once you go under the knife, the expectation is that you can be three or four months out.
“If it is the meniscus, they will try it for that three-week period. If there’s a chance he can play again this season, great. But the reality is that, if you’re going to go under the knife, the focus is going to be getting ready for pre-season.”
The Verdict: Don’t rush him back
It is vital that Leeds handle the teenager with care in his current situation, ensuring that he isn’t rushed back as it could potentially aggravate the problem further down the line.
The Norwegian is not in a situation where he is desperately needed by Marcelo Bielsa at the moment, having been used sparingly by the manager, and the most important thing is ensuring that he recovers fully.
If that means Hjelde doesn’t return until next season, so be it, and he should be viewed as someone who can be a star in the future, rather than an inexperienced head who is thrown into the intense glare of Leeds’ current Premier League relegation battle.
In other news, another candidate has emerged in the race to potentially replace Bielsa. Read more here.
