Big blow: Leeds dealt huge injury setback which will leave Bielsa fuming - opinion

Leeds United regular Stuart Dallas looks set for a spell on the sidelines after being substituted in the early exchanges of the 3-0 defeat to Everton on Saturday.

The Northern Irishman was on the pitch at Goodison Park for just nine minutes before having to be withdrawn after the 30-year-old had hurt himself in a collision with Everton’s Alex Iwobi.

Dallas attempted to play on but ultimately had to come off just a minute before the Toffees opened the scoring through Seamus Coleman on an afternoon that the Yorkshire club will want to forget.

Speaking to LUTV after the match, Leeds winger Daniel James said that the injury to his teammate was “a major blow” before adding: “Stuey’s a great player and he plays all over the pitch. Hopefully he’s not out for too long.”

To lose any player is always a blow, but the prospect of being without Dallas for forthcoming matches will particularly annoy Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa.

The 30-year-old has started every Premier League game for the Whites this season, with the only minutes missed before Saturday coming in the 1-0 win over Watford where the Northern Ireland international was withdrawn in the 78th minute.

Currently, there is little indication as to how serious Dallas’ injury is and how long he will be sidelined, but there is no doubt that everyone involved with Leeds United will be hoping that the situation isn’t serious.

Aside from being an ever-present in the current campaign, the 30-year-old is incredibly flexible when it comes to positioning, having played at left-back, right-back and central midfield this season, with the last three games seeing him line out at left-back.

In terms of backup options in that role, Junior Firpo is the only senior alternative, with the Spaniard