OPINION
Leeds United midfielder Adam Forshaw has missed the last six games after suffering a knee problem and this does not look good for when he returns.
Before he was ruled out of the clash against Middlesbrough a while ago, the 27-year-old was not enjoying the best of spells with the Whites and was arguably one player whose form was declining rapidly.
This obviously led to Marcelo Bielsa having no choice but to drop him from the starting XI, and from there on in, teammate Kalvin Phillips has been a shining light in the midfield week in, week out.
YEP journalist Phil Hay provided an update on Forshaw’s absence in a Twitter exchange with a fan on Monday, and the prognosis does not look good for him. Hay said the injury was a lot worse than Leeds had expected, which is no doubt a major blow for Forshaw personally.
knee problem. A bit worse than Leeds expected (but not major).
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) March 11, 2019
There is currently no time scale on his return, but when that does eventually happen, he is likely to be left out in the cold due to the brilliance of Phillips. He may have got Phillips axed before this season, but he is unlikely to do so this time around. Bielsa has Phillips firmly in his thoughts and Forshaw coming back is not going to blur that in the slightest.
This makes the likelihood of Forshaw slotting back into the team when he comes back very slim indeed, and it is more likely that he is going to sit on the bench more often than he would like. It may seem harsh, but then it would be harsh to see Phillips drop out of the team at his expense.
Forshaw will surely be fearing a first team exile when he returns – and the longer he is absent, the less likely he will slot back in when he returns.