'Big...' - Journalist now reacts to major Leeds injury blow before Arsenal – report

Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes Stuart Dallas will be a ‘big miss’ for Leeds United in the relegation battle after he picked up a serious injury last weekend.

Dallas faces a lengthy period in the Thorp Arch treatment room after he suffered a femoral fracture against Manchester City.

The Northern Irishman, who has started 121 of Leeds’ last 122 league games, was stretched off at Elland Road and had surgery on the injury within 48 hours.

A Leeds source believes Dallas’ injury could be worse than first feared in a ‘devastating’ blow that may rule him out for the majority of next season.

Jesse Marsch is gearing up for his first full campaign as Whites boss, however, it remains to be seen whether or not Leeds will still be a Premier League club heading into the 2022/23 season.

Talking to The Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke had this to say on Dallas, describing the versatile full-back as a ‘big miss’ both on and off the pitch ahead of the trip to Arsenal.

“He’s versatile and willing to play anywhere for the club. I think off the pitch now it’s going to be a big miss because he’s a big character and a leader in that dressing room.

“The situation that Leeds find themselves in right now, they need all those leaders and characters to come to the fore and help them get out of trouble. So yeah, it’ll be a big miss, not just on the pitch, but also off it.”

Marsch already has a fairly small squad as it is, and the injury problems at Elland Road haven’t stopped after he replaced Marcelo Bielsa at the end of February.

Alongside Dallas, Tyler Roberts, Crysencio Summerville and Adam Forshaw are out for the rest of the season, while Junior Firpo and Patrick Bamford have also suffered serious injuries during Marsch’s time in Yorkshire.

On that