Former Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton believes Tyler Roberts’ injury is a major blow for Leeds United despite his indifferent form this season.
Roberts has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after undergoing surgery on a ruptured hamstring tendon he picked up just minutes after coming on in the defeat at Leicester City.
He becomes the latest of a long line of injury issues for the Whites this season, with his absence coinciding with the return of Patrick Bamford.
Bamford has started just five games over the course of the campaign, with his most recent having come in the September draw at Newcastle United.
New manager Jesse Marsch named Bamford on the bench against Leicester, however he was not fit enough to be handed any minutes.
Given the length of his absence, Bamford will have to be eased back in, but given Leeds’ lack of options, he could instead be thrust straight back into the action.
And it is for that reason Hutton thinks Roberts’ injury is a ‘nightmare’, as if they lost Bamford again, it could be catastrophic.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “It’s an absolute nightmare. The worst bit was when I saw him run back on the pitch because they’d used all the subs. That was a real worry.
“Bamford comes back in but he’s not up to speed. He’s not ready yet. Then one of your other forward-thinking players picks up a serious injury and is out for the season.
“It’s not ideal, especially with everything they’re going through. With Bamford, you’re going to have to put him in and manage his minutes.
“You need other people round about him. It’s an area where they have struggled. They’ve tried different things up top and it’s just yet another blow.
“We know the injury crisis Leeds have had over the last couple of seasons. It just seems to keep happening week after week.”
