Leeds United have been dealt an injury concern regarding Crysencio Summerville.
What’s the latest?
In a recent article for the Yorkshire Evening Post, Graham Smyth revealed that the winger – who had already taken a blow to an ankle earlier in the week – picked up an injury to his other ankle in a mid-season friendly against Elche on Thursday, with the forward having to be withdrawn from the 2-1 victory as a result of his knock.
Regarding the Dutchman’s setback, the journalist wrote: “Having already hurt one ankle this week, he got a whack on the other one and looked in serious discomfort as he was helped from the pitch. On fire in front of goal prior to the break, Leeds will hope and pray it’s just a sore one and not a significant one.”
Orta must act
Considering just how impressive Summerville has been for Leeds in recent weeks, it would undoubtedly come as a huge blow to Jesse Marsch and his side if the 21-year-old is ruled out for the Whites’ upcoming Premier League clash with Manchester City on December 28.
Indeed, the £5.1m-rated talent has been something of a revelation for Leeds over the club’s last four fixtures in the league, scoring a last-minute winner in both the 2-1 win at Liverpool and 4-3 victory over Bournemouth, also finding the net in the 3-2 loss to Fulham and 4-3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Over these four games, the £8.4k-per-week sensation has averaged a very impressive Sofascore match rating of 7.10, a score which, if maintained over the course of the season, would see the trickster rank as Marsch’s second-best performer in the top-flight of English football.
Furthermore, with fellow Leeds winger Luis Sinisterra also having missed the club’s last three Premier League fixtures as a result of a foot injury, the further loss of Summerville ahead of the Man City fixture later this month would further limit the 48-year-old manager’s options out wide.
As such, with the Whites having already failed to bring a tried and tested centre-forward into the club over the summer transfer window, despite the continued injury struggles of Patrick Bamford, it would appear most wise for Victor Orta to learn his lesson heading into the January market.
Indeed, should the Leeds director of football wish to give Marsch the best possible chance of avoiding a repeat of last season’s fight for survival this time around, the Spaniard simply must move to add further depth to the Whites’ wide attacking options in January, as Summerville’s blow has highlighted just how fragile Leeds currently are in that regard.