OPINION
There was great disappointment among the Leeds United fanbase when it was announced on Monday by the club that Pontus Jansson is facing three weeks out injured.
The Sweden international is the master and commander of the United defence, and has played the best football of his career during this automatic promotion-chasing campaign.
Confirmation the knee injury he suffered late in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United would keep him out of the Millwall and Birmingham City matches after the international break was a major blow.
However, Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent Phil Hay has delivered an upbeat update on Jansson that claims the injury is not quite as serious as the club made out in their statement at the start of the week.
He explained how “Leeds have ruled Jansson out for a maximum of three weeks but are hopeful that his recovery will be quicker than that”, adding the club have hopes he will be back to full fitness in time to face Garry Monk’s Birmingham City on April 6.
One of the features of Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa is they have been able to weather the never-ending storm of injuries that could have been catastrophic to the club’s hopes of a top-two finish.
The injury count to senior players is now around the 50 mark, a remarkable number and clearly not unrelated to the team’s physically demanding playing style.
Nevertheless, Jansson is one of the most important members of the team, with his aerial prowess certainly unmatched in the squad, something that would have been invaluable against the physical Millwall style next month.
Supporters will be bouncing with joy at the prospect of him making an earlier-than-expected return to the side.