Leeds United: Blow for Whites as captain Bridcutt faces six weeks out

Leeds United have suffered a major blow with the news that captain Liam Bridcutt will be missing for up to eight weeks with a fractured foot.
Liam BridcuttLiam Bridcutt
Liam Bridcutt

Bridcutt has been sidelined after undergoing a scan on a problem which was refusing to heal.

The midfielder limped out of a league game against Blackburn Rovers earlier this month and has missed the last four games, despite initial confidence that he would recover quickly.

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Bridcutt was sent for another assessment in London on Tuesday and was diagnosed with a fractured metatarsal. The 27-year-old is likely to be out until late November.

“We thought when we had the first scan that it was bruising on his metatarsal,” head coach Garry Monk said. “We thought he should have recovered by now and he was very close but we felt that something wasn’t quite right.

“That second scan showed a slight fracture which the first scan didn’t pick up.

“I’m disappointed for Liam and disappointed for ourselves. Liam’s captain of the club and he’s a big player for us so it’s a blow.

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“It’s six to eight weeks. Hopefully it can be on the side of six weeks.”

Leeds fought hard to sign Bridcutt from Sunderland during the transfer window and he was named as captain after defender Sol Bamba left Elland Road.

Monk, however, is optimistic that influential centre-back Pontus Jansson will be available for Saturday’s derby against Barnsley, despite pulling a hamstring in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at Bristol City.

“He was back out on the grass today,” Monk said. “We’re very hopeful with Pontus.”