Ally McCoist reacts to 'nightmare' Leeds United injury news as Wayne Rooney praises loanee's key attribute

Leeds United will look to pick up a third consecutive win and a fifth in six games when they face Norwich City at Carrow Road this evening. Daniel Farke’s side cruised past Coventry City on Saturday and could end the night at the Championship’s summit, should results elsewhere go their way.

Doing so will not be easy, however, with Farke confirming the long-term absence of captain Ethan Ampadu on Monday while Max Wober, Dan James, Manor Solomon and Isaac Schmidt are also unavailable. It’s a long journey south to Norfolk with a big night on the horizon, and the YEP has rounded up some of the latest stories surrounding the club in the meantime.

Ampadu reaction

Ally McCoist has shared his concern regarding the number of serious injuries being picked up, following news that Ampadu will not play again this year. The Welshman suffered a serious injury to the lateral collateral ligament in his knee after a thunderous challenge on Saturday, with a return to training not expected for around 10 weeks.

Ampadu is the latest player to suffer a serious injury, with Manchester City’s Rodri out for the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Unlike the Spanish international, Leeds’ midfielder won’t undergo surgery but McCoist has raised concerns over the number of issues being picked up.

“Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu will be out until at least January having sustained a knee ligament injury in the Championship win against Coventry,” McCoist told talkSPORT. “Nightmare, we’re seeing so many injuries now and the knee ligaments are the ones, ankle ligaments are the worst as you know.”

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Gyabi praise

Wayne Rooney hopes to have on-loan Leeds midfielder Darko Gyabi fit for this evening’s trip to Burnley, following another strong performance in last weekend’s 3-1 win against Luton Town. Gyabi is enjoying a great early spell of form during his second loan spell at Home Park and set up his side’s second goal against Luton with a lung-busting run.

The midfielder was substituted immediately afterward and it has transpired that he suffered a dead leg shortly before half-time, making that run and assist even more impressive. And Rooney has provided a fitness update on the 20-year-old ahead of a massive trip to Turf Moor.

“It was a dead leg from the first half, and especially when you go off at half-time they stiffen up, and it’s hard to get going, although he didn’t show any signs just before that when we get the second goal,” Rooney told Plymouth Live of Gyabi’s minor injury. “He drove forwards, which is a real attribute of his, but he felt he couldn’t continue after that, so we made a change.”