Former Premier League winger Robert Snodgrass has offered an insight into what lies ahead for Stuart Dallas following the Northern Ireland star's femoral fracture at the weekend.
Snodgrass was sidelined for 17 months after dislocating his kneecap playing for Hull City against Queens Park Rangers in the opening day of the 2014/15 season.
The Scottish international also damaged his surrounding ligaments, the injury spreading to multiple parts of the joint.
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The 34-year-old hopes Dallas avoids a similar tale of woe after Saturday's challenge on Jack Grealish left the Northern Ireland star in agony, and out for the rest of the season.
Reflecting on his own injury ordeal eight years ago, Snodgrass told The Athletic: "With me, all that happened was Joey Barton put a bit of pressure on my shoulder, leaning on me as he tried to win the ball.
“I turned out of the tackle and my knee went under me. I actually tried to come back on but once I stepped up onto the ledge by the pitch, I felt the pain and realised there was no chance. My knee had swollen to about three times the normal size.
“With Stuart and Grealish, it’s a collision between them but as soon as I heard what Stuart had done, the first thought that went through my mind was the time it’ll take for him to get back.
"Fingers crossed the injury’s clean because in my case, it was far from clean.”
The same surgeon who worked on Snodgrass' knee eight years ago is also handling Dallas' injury.
Specialist Dr Andy Williams has been involved in Dallas' treatment in London alongside Dr Khaled Sarraf.
It is not yet known the extent of the damage, with Leeds just confirming that Dallas is facing a "lengthy period out".
Reflecting on his own 17-month recovery, Snodgrass said: "The surgeon was pretty honest with me.
“He told me that if I got back to any sort of level, I’d be doing well. That really stuck with me. I’m hoping Stuart will get back fine and I’m sure he will.
"He might not have anything like the damage I had but you do have those thoughts in your head. Six months in, I was thinking, ‘Where do I turn here?’, because rehab is the same stuff over and over.
"All you want is to know that you’re going to play again and when."
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