Jesse Marsch has reiterated his disappointment in losing Rodrigo for six to eight weeks. The Spaniard has been Leeds United's standout performer this season, notching 12 goals in all competitions, but will miss at least the next two months after scans following their FA Cup tie with Accrington Stanley showed damage to his ligaments and bones around the joint.
Rodrigo will miss a number of important games as the Whites battle for Premier League survival, starting with Nottingham Forest this weekend. Adam Forshaw, Archie Gray and Stuart Dallas will all miss the trip to the City Ground but are well on with their recoveries.
Marsch said: "Obviously we made the announcement on Rodrigo yesterday, so unfortunately he picked up an injury at the end of the match that'll keep him out for probably six to eight weeks. Adam [Forshaw] we're building up but not quite ready yet.
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"Archie [Gray], almost back in training, Stuart [Dallas] making really good progress and Sonny Perkins also picked up a tendon, ankle injury in the match against Accrington so he won't be ready for this match either."
Marsch also confirmed that Pascal Stuijk, Liam Cooper, Tyler Adams and Crysnecio Summerville, who have all missed matches of late are fully fit again.
"They are all back in training and they are ready for Sunday," he added.
When asked about how big of blow it is to lose Rodrigo, Marsch said: "We're obviously disappointed. First, as a manager I always feel it's our responsibility to take care of these guys. Trying to manage them physically so that they're not risking their bodies - at harm - and I think we do a pretty good job of that.
"If you went by muscle injuries in this squad over the last year, it's been pretty good. This one was a bit of a contact at the top of the box right at the end of the match and it resulted in a small fracture at the bottom of his tibia, so, you can't protect players all the way.
"They have to play the match and you can't treat them like porcelain. Obviously, after the match when it was 3-0, then you think maybe we shouldn't have played him on the day but the emphasis on putting him out was to get him and Patrick [Bamford] playing together again, so we could have the option of both of them on the pitch at the same time.
"We're disappointed for Rodri but the good part is that Pat is in a good way this week, the best he's felt since I've been here. He's training well, he's in good form, playing well and it's the reason we went out and got Georginio [Rutter].
"I think he played really well at Accrington so he's ready for some big challenges and big moments as well. We have a really strong squad now, really balance and we're excited.
"We're excited for the upcoming matches because we feel that we're really strong."
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