Championship

Vieira suffers knee injury

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Image for Vieira suffers knee injury

Ronaldo Vieira has become the second Leeds United player to have suffered an injury in the wake of their morale-sapping defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.

Leeds confirmed on their official website on Monday that Pontus Jansson has pulled out of the Sweden squad during the international break after sustaining a shoulder injury at Hillsborough.

He was stretchered off with 18 minutes of the match to play after he was hurt in an accidental collision with midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who was left with a dead leg.

In addition, Leeds explained in a statement that midfielder Vieira will not be available for England Under-20s.

The 19-year-old was an unused substitute against Wednesday but has sustained what the club say is a “minor knee injury” and will remain at Thorp Arch to undergo treatment with the Leeds medical staff.

OPINION

The silver lining in the cloud that has enveloped Leeds in the last 24 hours is the timing of the injuries to Jansson and Vieira, which coincides with the start of the international break. Given that the promotion hopefuls are not in action for another 12 days, there is the possibility that key defender Jansson will not be absent for any club fixtures, although Leeds do not go as far as to offer that reassurance or any detail on his likely recovery period. Vieira’s injury appears to be not too serious, although there will be anxiety until he is given the all-clear. The teenager has slipped down the pecking order after his breakthrough 2016-17 season, but he remains a key member of the first-team squad and his energy in central midfield will be needed as the season progress.

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