Source: Leeds now dealt another "devastating" injury setback, Marsch will be gutted - opinion

Leeds United fear that Stuart Dallas’ injury could be even worse than anticipated…

According to Football Insider, an inside source at the club has claimed that the Whites’ medical staff believe that the versatile 31-year-old gem could miss the whole of next season, as Dallas could be out for at least 12 months before returning to competitive action.

The Northern Irishman sustained a femoral fracture in last weekend’s 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in what has been described as a “devastating” blow.

Leeds have also been without captain Liam Cooper in recent weeks, too.

Indeed, Dallas is hugely important to manager Jesse Marsch and the playing squad, as emphasised by the club’s statement after he was stretchered off at Elland Road less than a week ago.

‘It is impossible to put into words just how important Stuart is to Leeds United on and off the field,’ it read, via the Whites’ official website.

Playing in a variety of roles, largely at full-back and central midfield, the 31-year-old has featured in 122 of Leeds’ 123 competitive league and play-off matches since April 2019. During that time, he had not missed a single encounter in the Premier League, only reinforcing just how crucial he is to the team.

Furthermore, he currently rates out as Marsch’s fourth-best performer in the top flight, averaging a WhoScored rating of 6.78 per game, which is all the more impressive considering that he never has a settled role in the starting XI.

Only left-back and vice-skipper Luke Ayling (2.9) has averaged more tackles per game than Dallas (2.7), whilst he ranks third for interceptions (1.7 per game), so this sort of industrious and solid defensive presence will also be sorely missed.

If Dallas is indeed absent for the next 12 months,