Leeds United manager Javi Gracia will have more than just the relegation battle to worry about as his side continues to battle a slew of vital injuries that could sway the season's tempo back into the Whites' favour.
Following the 1-0 loss against Chelsea, Leeds have managed to stay out of the relegation zone thanks to a late Brennan Johnson equaliser for Nottingham Forest against Everton on Sunday afternoon.
But Gracia's men will have seen Brighton's 4-0 thrashing of relegation rival West Ham as a serious threat to their bid to stay in the Premier League and could use some returning players to ensure a chance of all three points next weekend.
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With that in mind, we have looked at the squad's current injury list ahead of Saturday afternoon's clash with Brighton in the Premier League.
Luis Sinisterra
The Colombian came off in the first-half of the 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford last month and was absent from the squad for the 1-0 defeat against Chelsea over the weekend.
What Skubala said (February 16): "He [Sinisterra] had a pulled muscle. He is on his way back, a bit further away than Liam [Cooper] and Marc [Roca], but he is progressing nicely."
Potential return date: 11/03/2023
Liam Cooper
Cooper hasn't featured for Leeds since the 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at the start of February after picking up a muscle injury. He was believed to be on a similar return path as Pascal Struijk but the Dutchman was named as a sub against Chelsea, with Cooper nowhere in sight.
What Gracia said (March 2): "To be honest, I don't know if they are going to be ready or not. The main reason though [for a lack of update] is that I don't want to speak about injured players."
Potential return date: 11/03/2023
Rodrigo
Rodrigo picked up a knock late into Leeds United's FA Cup win at Accrington Stanley. With scans showing bone and ligament damage at the joint, Rodrigo has undergone minor surgery to rectify the issue.
What Rodrigo said (February 22): "I expect to be back before the international break. When I got the injury, they said probably I will be back just after the international break, but things are progressing better than we always expected.
"I hope I can be available for the games before the international break, but let's see. We can’t confirm because it depends on my progression from now to the next two or three weeks, but if I keep this progression, I think I will be available before [the break]."
Potential return date: 01/04/2023
Sonny Perkins
Perkins also picked up an injury during the win over Accrington Stanley and there has been no further word on his expected recovery time.
What Skubala said (February 16): "We've got Sonny Perkins back on the pitch, which is nice to see. So yeah, we're slowly getting some strength back in the squad which is really pleasing."
Potential return date: 11/03/2023
Adam Forshaw
After his run of consistent first-team appearances over the winter break, Forshaw suffered a hip problem that has seen him out for the start of the year and will be on the sidelines for a little while longer.
What Marsch said (Jan 20): "It was more of a procedure. He had an injection to help fortify things. He's had a lot of visits to the doctor to figure out why this keeps happening and one of the things is just strengthening the area.
"And so it's about making sure we're not putting him in a situation where it's not cyclical and he's battling all the time to get out on the pitch. It's about making sure getting him to a strong place to get him back to his best."
Potential return date: Unknown
Stuart Dallas
Dallas went to Spain to complete rehab work as he continues his recovery from a fractured femur he suffered against Manchester City in April last year. He was, however, forced to undergo a second surgery to 'clean some things up'.
What Marsch said (Jan 22): "Stuart had a follow-up operation, too, because they thought they had a little bit of an infection, so they just cleaned that out, but he's back and feeling good."
Potential return date: Unknown
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