Leeds United may be forced into being active in the January transfer window following a new injury to key defender Pascal Struijk.
The 25-year-old vice-captain reported a hamstring complaint on Thursday and an initial scan has suggested he will be out for three weeks.
However, Leeds manager Daniel Farke has warned that the Dutch defender could be out for three months if a further scan next week flags up a problem with Struijk’s hamstring tendon.
As it stands, Farke is cautiously optimistic his centre-back will return next month, but in the worst-case scenario, he is open to reinforcing his backline.
“There’s a small chance the tendon of the muscle is involved,” he said. “Right now it’s too difficult to judge and we just can assess it when the fluid in the muscle has settled. We can rescan him in the middle of next week to give you a bigger timeframe.
“If the tendon would be involved, it would be a significantly longer rehab for him, we would not speak about three weeks, but three months.”
Struijk was injured at a similar time last season. His final appearance of the campaign came on Boxing Day because of an adductor issue.
The initial prognosis on that occasion was also three weeks, but it would end his campaign.
That experience, and fellow centre-back Max Wober’s ongoing knee issues, means Farke is conscious of ending January without enough cover in his defence.
“We definitely need to assess Pascal’s situation carefully,” he added. “If it’s just three weeks, there’s no need, perhaps, we’re forced to do something because a new player needs a couple of weeks to settle in. If he’s out for months it’s a bit tricky.
“I have a bit in my head, last season, similar situation, similar timing, he had an injury and the diagnosis was two or three weeks and he didn’t play another game for us.
“It’s important we have a look at possible options in case there would be a negative surprise next week.”
‘Struuijk’s injury could force Leeds into transfer action’
Leeds United wanted a quiet January transfer window unless a stellar option became unexpectedly available or a key player suffered a major injury.
Only one outfield player has seen more league minutes than Struijk this season, so this is a key face they would rather not do without.
If their worst fears are realised, then they surely need to act.
A fully fit Wober is a more than capable understudy, but he has wrestled with his own knee issues all season and cannot be trusted as a regular starter for the final three months of the campaign.
As he did in these exact circumstances last season, captain Ethan Ampadu is more than good enough to play in central defence, but given how last term ended, it seems sensible to avoid too much shifting around of the squad.
GO DEEPER
Has Struijk proven himself to be Leeds United’s most important player?
(George Wood/Getty Images)
