Phil Hay has delivered the news that all Leeds fans have been praying for – that the injury suffered by centre-back Pontus Jansson “doesn’t sound serious”.
That comes after he was due for scans to assess the severity of the injury that he picked up in the game against West Brom and that kept him out of Sweden’s international games this week.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that it sounds like he’s a big doubt for the Bristol City game at the weekend.
Hay didn’t categorically rule him out but did say that it would depend on how he progresses this week.
doesn't sound serious. Not sure if he'll make Bristol City but that will depend on how he progresses this week
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) November 19, 2018
OPINION
This is great news for Leeds fans, although it does leave them light for the game against Bristol City in the Championship. Liam Cooper is now the only recognised fit centre-back in the Leeds squad, with Conor Shaughnessy available as possible cover. If the injury had turned out to be serious it would have been a real body blow to Leeds, who might have had to look at bringing a free agent in (James Collins and Robert Huth are both still without clubs after not getting their contracts extended at West Ham and Leicester). As it is, they’ll probably be able to limp through until January, but at that point the only sensible course of action is to bring someone in. The winter months are likely to be even more demanding and could exact an even higher price in a season that’s seen Leeds pick up more than its fair share of injuries. Fans will still be praying that Jansson makes it back for the Bristol City game but they’d take their enforcer just missing the one game. It could have been so much worse.