Leeds United head coach Paul Heckingbottom says there is no light at the end of the tunnel as the ever-growing injury list continues.
Pontus Jansson is forced to miss the trip to Aston Villa on Friday night after suffering a concussion in the clash at Preston North End in midweek.
Jansson’s injury means Leeds will be missing five players who have played at the heart of the Leeds defence this season. Luke Ayling, Conor Shaughnessy and Matthew Pennington are all out injured and Gaetano Berardi is suspended.
Heckingbottom is also without Laurens De Bock, Adam Forshaw, Eunan O’Kane and Tyler Roberts through injury and he
“There is no light at the end of the tunnel at the moment in terms of injuries and we’ve added another one to it on Tuesday as well,” Heckingbottom told the Leeds United official website.
“That is our biggest problem at the minute, the horrendous injury list and not only that, the positions that are getting injured and the standard of player that is getting injured, is a big problem for us.
“Pontus Jansson has sustained a head injury, even if Pontus said he was fit, once the doctors are involved there is a return to play protocol which we have to follow, but hopefully he will be back for the following game.”
With Jansson out, Heckingbottom will be forced to start two players at the heart of the Leeds defence who hadn’t made a senior appearance for Leeds before last weekend.
Paudie O’Connor and Hugo Diaz are expected to start at Villa Park against the Championship promotion chasers. O’Connor only made his senior debut last weekend and Diaz made his debut as a replacement for Jansson in midweek.
Heckingbottom is hoping that Adam Forshaw, Laurens De Bock and Matthew Pennington could be back in contention for the home clash against his former club Barnsley in Leeds next game after Aston Villa.