Inside Georginio Rutter's hernia surgery as Leeds United star's Munich trip suggests Patrick Bamford repeat

Georginio Rutter's trip to Munich this week suggests the Leeds United forward has undergone the same revolutionary procedure as Patrick Bamford in 2022.

Rutter withdrew from international duty with Thierry Henry's France under-23s after Leeds decided to take action on a persistent hernia issue. The attacker had been battling through the pain barrier for several weeks, with the decision being taken to use the break in the hope of a swift return around Easter.

An initial 10-day timeframe surprised many supporters, given Rutter was due to go under the knife, but the 21-year-old is thought to have paid a visit to the world-renowned Dr Ulrike Muschaweck. The German doctor's less invasive method of treating hernias has cut recovery time in the past and Bamford is one of her previous patients.

“Leeds were very confident that it will be a very short period out for Rutter and he might even be available for Watford,” YEP reporter Graham Smyth told the Inside Elland Road podcast. “You told me he’d flown to Munich, which means he’s probably gone to see Dr Ulrike Muschaweck who operated on Patrick Bamford back when Leeds were in Spain in the mid-season World Cup break. 

“I remember looking into that Muschaweck repair which is a couple of sutures which avoids more severe and invasive surgery. It also allows players to be back running within something like three or four days. So if he's had that, then it should be a relatively short time before we see him back on the pitch.”

The YEP reported at the time of Bamford's surgery that Muschaweck had been specialising in groin hernias since 1993, with Xabi Alonso and Michael Owen among several high-profile patients. In 2022, she developed a technique for treating a 'sportsman's groin' which is far less invasive and ensures a much quicker return to play.

Rutter posted an encouraging post-surgery message on his social media earlier this week and will now continue his rehabilitation in the hope of being fit in time for next week's trip to Watford. Leeds kick-off at Vicarage Road at 8pm on Good Friday, after Leicester City and Ipswich Town face Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers respectively.