Sixteen weeks out for Leeds United defender Gaetano Berardi with hamstring tendon rupture

LEEDS UNITED'S Gaetano Berardi is facing 16 weeks on the sidelines with the defender having suffered a hamstring tendon rupture.

Berardi suffered the injury in last month's 2-0 Championship victory at home to Ipswich Town and the 28-year-old has spent the past week seeing consultants in the UK and Italy.

SIXTEEN WEEKS OUT: For Leeds United defender Gaetano Berardi.

placeholder image — SIXTEEN WEEKS OUT: For Leeds United defender Gaetano Berardi.

The elected treatment is not surgical and Leeds now expect that Berardi will be missing for the next 16 weeks at a time when Whites team mate and fellow right back Luke Ayling is facing two months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Ayling damaged the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in last weekend's 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest.

Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa has already confirmed that winger Stuart Dallas will again be fielded as a full back in Sunday's Championship clash at Wigan Athletic for which Barry Douglas will return from injury at left back.