Leeds United’s key Premier League rivals have been rocked by a big blow.
One of Leeds United’s key Premier League relegation rivals will be without a big-money January signing for several weeks through injury.
West Ham United currently occupy the third and final relegation place, with three places and six points separating them from Leeds in 15th. Both, however, are enjoying spells of form those around them in the bottom half could only dream of
Leeds’ ability to maintain that six-point gap on West Ham has been even more impressive, given the Hammers have won three and drawn one of their last five games. Prior to their most recent league match against Manchester United, manager Nuno Espirito Santo hinted at fitness problems but would not give any names.
"Unfortunately we’re going to have some players out,” he admitted. “It is what it is, but I’m not going to say who it is.”
That vague response was cause for concern among West Ham fans who were left to speculate which - and how many - of their stars would miss out. Come matchday, it was striker Pablo Felipe who was absent from the squad and an update has been provided on his injury.
The Athletic report that Pablo, signed in a £21million deal from Portuguese outfit Gil Vicente in January, is set to miss four-to-six weeks with a calf injury. At the earliest, he could return at the end of March but his absence could even be extended into April.
In terms of Premier League action, Pablo is almost certain to miss games against Bournemouth, Liverpool, Fulham and Manchester City. A six-week absence would see him return after the March international break and he could miss West Ham’s meeting with Aston Villa too.
West Ham injury blow but Leeds United focus is on themselves
Pablo hadn’t scored in his five Premier League appearances before energy but did bring a renewed energy to the West Ham frontline alongside fellow January arrival Taty Castellanos. The pair helped create space for the likes of Jarrod Bowen and the in-form Crysencio Summerville to thrive.
The 22-year-old’s injury is a big blow for West Ham but Daniel Farke and his Leeds squad won’t be paying too much attention to rivals. They are well-placed to avoid relegation regardless of form elsewhere and only have to fulfil their end of the bargain between now and May.
Read More
The Whites have a three-place buffer on West Ham with Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur between the pair in 17th and 16th respectively. Both are in terrible form and both have made some big decisions in recent weeks.
Forest sacked Sean Dyche following a 0-0 draw against Wolves and their 3-1 defeat at Leeds, moving onto their fourth manager of the season in the shape of Vitor Pereira. Spurs, meanwhile, sacked Thomas Frank after a run of two wins in 17 Premier League games and have replaced him with relative unknown Igor Tudor.
Leeds have another tough game on the cards this weekend away at Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa. Maintaining that gap on West Ham would be welcomed, with the Hammers hosting Bournemouth while Spurs and Nottingham Forest face Arsenal and Liverpool respectively.
Continue Reading