Journalist Conor McGilligan has been left fuming by Leeds United’s current injury concerns in attack with Rodrigo the latest to suffer an injury setback.
As things stand, striker Rodrigo will miss three to four weeks after he dislocated his shoulder in a recent match. On top of that Patrick Bamford has only been fit enough to start one Premier League game this season (via Transfermarkt).
This leaves a lot of pressure on alternative option Joe Gelhardt – who hasn’t been trusted from the start in the league yet this term.
With that in mind, Leeds were clearly on the hunt for another striking option on deadline day, but failed with notable target Bamba Dieng – who snubbed them in favour of Nice, only to fail his medical.
After all the drama, McGilligan called the situation an ’embarrassment’ and highlighted the many issues while speaking on the One Leeds Fan Channel.
He explained: “Up front it’s a joke, it’s an absolute joke, it’s an embarrassment. Rodrigo is probably going to be out for four weeks, which we predicted on the review show the other day, maybe five weeks. That’s an absolute shambles.
“Bamford is being nurtured back into it. He was on the bench the other day to boost Leeds fans’ hopes, but he’s not fit. He’s nowhere near match fit. You can tell when he’s on the ball, you can tell with how he is playing the game at the speed that Leeds United play, he’s nowhere near match fitness. So that’s an absolute joke in itself, so he’s sporadically coming back.”
Are Leeds still short on options in attack?
Yes
No
TIF thoughts on Leeds and their forwards…
The Whites did at least add one new forward to their front line. Indeed, they signed Italian teen Wilfried Gnonto on a five-year deal from FC Zurich.
Taking that into account, it’s easy to see why Leeds were also on the hunt for another striker – such as Dieng – but as the club failed to land anyone else, it’s clear that McGilligan certainly isn’t happy with the situation.
Only time will tell whether or not this comes back to haunt Jesse Marsch and co.
Manchester Evening News journalist Conor McGilligan. The negativity monster.