Huge blow: Leeds handed late injury setback ahead of Wolves, Marsch will be livid - opinion

Phil Hay has dropped an update on the condition of Joe Gelhardt, Jamie Shackleton and Lewis Bate ahead of Leeds United’s Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers tonight.

In a recent post on Twitter, The Athletic journalist revealed that the 19-year-old centre-forward, who scored the dramatic last-minute winner over Norwich City last time out, is now a doubt for the trip to Molineux due to a back problem. Hay went on to claim in a further tweet that both Shackleton and Bate are also doubts for tonight’s clash.

In his posts, the Leeds correspondent said: “Gelhardt has a back problem which is why he didn’t feature for the U23s but he’s still got a chance of featuring against Wolves… Shackleton and Bate are both doubts.”

Considering the impact Gelhardt had for Leeds in his last appearance for the club, and with the Whites’ options in central midfield already somewhat limited, the news that he, Shackleton and Bate are now all doubtful for the Wolves game is sure to have left Jesse Marsch livid.

Indeed, with Patrick Bamford still not fully back up to speed having only just recovered from a lengthy injury of his own, there is a very real chance that the 19-year-old Gelhardt could have been in line for a start at Molineux – something which would now appear extremely unlikely.

Meanwhile, while neither Shackleton nor Bate are exactly guaranteed starters for Leeds, the potential loss of two excellent options from the bench will nevertheless come as a huge blow to Marsch and his side.

Indeed, with three points against Bruno Lage’s side likely to go a very long way towards securing the Whites’ top-flight status for a further season, the American will be desperate for his team to secure a positive result against Wolves